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Euronews
2 days ago
- Business
- Euronews
Is wind power really a ‘con job'? Fact-checking Trump's latest claims
During a visit to Scotland this week, Donald Trump urged Europe to 'stop the windmills', branding wind energy as ineffective and harmful. Speaking to reporters at Prestwick Airport upon arriving in the country last Friday, he said, 'You see these windmills all over the place, ruining your beautiful fields and valleys and killing your birds, and if they're stuck in the ocean, ruining your oceans.' The US President then launched into a tirade about wind energy during a press conference on Sunday with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to announce a new trade deal, calling it a 'con job' that 'doesn't work'. Speaking at his Turnberry golf resort, he said wind turbines in Aberdeen were 'some of the ugliest windmills you've ever seen'. On Monday, during a press conference with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump again attacked wind energy, calling turbines 'ugly monsters' and urging Starmer to instead back North Sea oil and gas. Trump's opposition is nothing new, and his war on wind energy began during a long-running battle with Scottish authorities over 11 wind turbines that can be seen from his Turnberry luxury golf resort. The legal challenge, launched in 2013, was ultimately dismissed by the UK Supreme Court in December 2015. His recent comments on wind energy add to a litany of complaints from the well-known climate change denier over the years, but how accurate are his claims about turbines? Are wind turbines the 'most expensive form of energy'? 'It is the worst form of energy, the most expensive form of energy, but windmills should not be allowed,' Trump claimed. A recent report on the costs of renewable energy from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) found that, globally, wind power is now 53 per cent cheaper than the lowest-cost fossil fuel alternative. Onshore wind was found to be the most affordable source of new power generation. As technology has advanced, supply chains have become more competitive and manufacturing has scaled up, the report explains, leading to a drop in prices. Onshore wind costs in particular have plummeted by 56 per cent since 2010. Trump may have been referring to the UK government increasing the maximum price it is prepared to guarantee companies generating electricity from new wind farms. Each year, companies that want to build renewable energy projects bid for government-backed contracts. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has faced criticism for setting the maximum price for offshore wind at £113 (€130) per megawatt-hour (MWh) of energy - up from £102 (€118) in 2024 - at an upcoming auction of these contracts which opens in August. Currently, the wholesale gas price is £78 (€90) per MWh, but this frequently fluctuates, reaching over £170 (€196) per MWh during the 2022 price spike. The UK government has said that these prices don't represent a final amount, however, as companies will put in lower bids to win the auction. It claims that this auction will reveal the true price, referring back to last year, where prices cleared significantly lower than the maximum it set. Do wind turbines 'rust and rot' in eight years? Trump claimed that wind turbines 'start to rust and rot in eight years' and, when they do, 'you can't really turn them off, you can't burn them. They won't let you bury the propellers, the props, because there's a certain type of fibre that doesn't go well with the land.' IRENA cites the average lifespan of a wind turbine as around 20 and 25 years, not eight. Manufacturers say that some modern wind turbines in well-maintained locations can operate for 30 years or more. Scottish Power, for example, launched a repowering initiative in 2023 for Scotland's oldest onshore wind farm, which has been producing energy since 1998. Scientists from the EU's Joint Research Centre estimate that by 2050, the annual waste from wind turbines could be around 10 million tonnes. But around 80 to 95 per cent of their mass, including materials like steel, concrete and copper, can be recycled, according to industry groups like WindEurope. Recycling the propellers, or turbine blades, can be a bit trickier. Designed to be lightweight and durable, they are often made from fibreglass or carbon fibre held together with resin. This can be hard to separate, making recycling particularly difficult and expensive. Companies are working on solutions to the problem, however. In 2021, the European wind industry committed to reusing, recovering, or recycling 100 per cent of decommissioned blades and has called for a ban on sending them to landfills. Recycling technologies have significantly advanced since then, with new methods to break down this waste into usable components for products like cement additives. New blade designs are also incorporating more recyclable materials to make this process easier in the future. Reusing or upcycling blades is another alternative, with companies like Sweden's Vattenfall using them as part of a parking garage and Ireland's BladeBridge turning them into pedestrian bridges. Are 'almost all' wind turbines made in China? The US President claimed that 'they're made in China, almost all of them' and he isn't entirely wrong. China is currently the world's biggest manufacturer of wind turbines and their components. Around 60 per cent of global wind turbine production capacity is estimated to be in China, according to the Global Wind Energy Council. There are also significant manufacturing hubs elsewhere in the world with key producers in Germany, Spain, France and Denmark. Europe is thought to make up around 19 per cent of global manufacturing. As of 2024, around 90 per cent of commissioned wind projects in Europe used European-made wind turbines, according to a report from WindEurope. But with soaring demand for renewables, an ambitious EU clean energy target and much lower costs from Chinese manufacturers, countries are increasingly looking outside of Europe for their turbines. Are wind turbines 'killing birds'? Trump also claimed that wind turbines are harming wildlife, including whales and birds. He said they are driving whales 'loco' and killing them. Though a lot of whale behaviour is complex and not yet particularly well understood by scientists, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says there is no evidence linking offshore wind turbines to whale deaths. Some activists have in the past suggested that building new wind farms, which involves techniques like surveying using acoustic waves, could impact whales. There is little evidence to suggest fatal impacts, however, and many countries have regulations in place to protect marine creatures during surveying for wind farm construction. Human interactions, such as ship strikes or entanglement in fishing gear, are much more likely to cause fatalities. Trump also said that wind farms 'kill the birds'. Wind turbines do cause bird fatalities, but only a fraction of the number killed by threats like cats, power lines, buildings or even climate change itself. Their impact can also vary depending on the time of year, place or local species of bird, with some wind farms killing large numbers of birds and others killing none. It is still a threat that needs to be taken seriously, and scientists are working on ways to avoid birds colliding with the turbines. Simple solutions being explored involve painting turbine blades in contrasting colours or patterns to make them more visible. More complex options could see AI tech used to shut down turbines when birds approach. Experts say location is probably the most important factor in determining how dangerous a wind farm could be to birds. Studying sites to determine their impact before building could dramatically reduce their impact. Did wind energy fail in Germany? 'The whole thing is a con job,' Trump said, adding that 'Germany tried it, and wind doesn't work.' Last year, wind power accounted for 28 per cent of Germany's electricity generation, making it the country's largest single source of electricity. Overall, renewable sources, including wind, solar, biomass and hydroelectric, made up nearly 60 per cent of its energy mix. During the first nine months of 2024, wind and solar generated more electricity than fossil fuels for the first time ever. The increase in renewables' share was driven by growth in wind and solar power. Wind alone was responsible for 31 per cent of the increase in Germany's renewable generation, according to think tank Ember.
Scotsman
2 days ago
- Health
- Scotsman
Equality Act 'a grey area', says NHS Fife manager who lifted Sandie Peggie's suspension
The ongoing employment tribunal heard the nurse was not deemed to be a risk to trans patients. Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The Equality Act is a 'grey area', according to the NHS Fife manager who lifted nurse Sandie Peggie's suspension. The ongoing employment tribunal between the nurse, trans doctor Beth Upton, and NHS Fife was also told Ms Peggie was not deemed to be a risk to trans patients. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Lottie Myles, service manager at NHS Fife, was questioned by the tribunal on Monday. Ms Peggie is suing the health board and Dr Upton after she was suspended following a row between the pair over Dr Upton's use of the female changing rooms on Christmas Eve, 2023. Nurse Sandie Peggie | JeffDuring her evidence, Ms Myles said she had researched the Equality Act 2010 for a better understanding of the law, but admitted 'it is a grey area within a lot of workplaces'. She added: 'I felt reassured in my research that the elements regarding gender recognition say we are to treat the person in the sex they identify as. I didn't want to breach legislation and I wanted to have both parties treated fairly and equally.' In April, the UK Supreme Court ruled that the terms 'sex' and 'women' refers to biological sex only. Transgender remains a protected characteristic under this legislation. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Ms Peggie was suspended over allegations of bullying and harassment just days after the changing room incident on Christmas Eve. Ms Myles told the tribunal she could understand how the suspension was embarrassing for Ms Peggie and was affecting her mental wellbeing as she had been a nurse for 30 years with an 'unblemished' record. At this point Ms Myles decided to lift her suspension as she felt 'reassured' she was not a risk to trans patients in the emergency department. She said: 'I felt reassured she wouldn't treat them differently. 'Sandie has been a nurse for 30 years - I'm sure in that time she has dealt with transgender patients. 'I felt there were no safety concerns.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad She added the return to work meeting between her and Ms Peggie was 'difficult because it was emotional for Sandie Peggie'. Initially Ms Myles suggested Ms Peggie be moved to a different department within the hospital, but Ms Peggie objected to this as emergency nursing is her 'bread and butter'. There were also suggestions Ms Peggie, who had worked night shifts, be moved to day shifts so she could be supervised by senior nursing staff. Ms Peggie also objected to this as she needed a shift pattern that worked around her dog at home. A compromise was then found where Ms Peggie and Dr Upton were never on the rota at the same time. However, numerous members of staff within the emergency department then said they 'weren't happy' with Ms Myles's decision to allow Ms Peggie to return to work. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Ms Myles said that Dr Kate Searle and Dr Maggie Currer both objected to her decision, while senior nurse managers Esther Davidson and Louise Curran 'similarly expressed' objections, but were not able to give an 'accurate response' regarding alleged patient safety concerns. She said she told Ms Peggie verbally on March 7 and in writing on March 12 that the suspension would be lifted. However, it was later reinstated due to issues with looking after the nurse's dog, and she returned to work around April 12 2024. Ms Myles said that 'usually we don't like to suspend' and she believed there were no patient safety issues, the tribunal heard. However she said that she 'wasn't impressed' by allegations made by senior medics and warned them to comply with correct protocols and policies. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Ms Myles said: 'When I explained to staff members they weren't particularly happy with my decision initially.' She said she visited Dr Searle's office to co-ordinate a rota and was met with further objections, but warned the consultant she was 'culpable' if allegations were not reported correctly, the tribunal heard. Ms Myles said: 'Kate Searle expressed unhappiness that we were taking Ms Peggie back into the workplace and made a comment saying there had been patient safety issues, there had been other behaviours towards a doctor. I asked if this had been investigated and reported appropriately, and she said no. 'I said that if these events had happened and they had not been reported, you were culpable.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad She added: 'They weren't happy but it was my sole responsibility to review the suspension. My primary concern is to make sure patients are getting seen.' The witness said she did not know 'what the indicators were… to be suspended in the first place' and felt there 'was no risk', the tribunal heard. Ms Myles said: 'I wasn't impressed; if someone wants to raise patient safety concern it should go through correct process and be escalated at the time the incident happened. My stance was: 'If you have not followed correct protocol and policy you are culpable'.' She said that Ms Davidson alleged that a doctor had been subject to a racist slur by Ms Peggie, which is denied by the nurse. And she branded allegations by Ms Curran that the nurse shared Donald Trump's views on gender 'tittle-tattle', the tribunal heard. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Ms Myles said: 'It was very similar, tittle-tattle of being a supporter of Donald Trump and sharing his views on gender. That's somebody's personal view and as long as it doesn't impact on workforce or patients or cause harm, people are entitled to have their private views.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Rape crisis centre to launch single sex-only meetings after trans row
A rape crisis charity at the heart of a row over whether trans women can attend support sessions for women has announced it is launching a new service for women which will exclude transgender participants. In 2022 a woman known as "Sarah" told BBC News she was suing Brighton-based Survivors' Network because she felt uncomfortable talking about her own abuse in front of a trans woman who had joined the group. The charity, which provides support services for survivors of sexual violence in Sussex, says it will now run a new group for biological women who live as women, alongside its existing meetings that allow trans and non-binary people to take part. Earlier this year, a UK Supreme Court ruling said single-sex services should be reserved for people of the same biological sex. Sarah told the BBC in 2002 she had been sexually abused as a child and then raped when in her 20s. She had approached the group for support after coming into contact with the man she said had attacked her. "I was finding it really hard to cope," she said at the time. She said she had found the sessions helpful and supportive at first. She called them a "safe space". However, a trans woman - a biological male who identified as a woman - started attending the support group for victims of sexual abuse and assault. Sarah says the trans woman presented as typically male in the way she looked and dressed, and Sarah felt uncomfortable in her presence. "I don't trust men because I was raped by a man," she said at the time. "I don't necessarily trust that men are always who they say they are." Sarah stopped attending the sessions. At the time, Survivors' Network said trans women were welcome into all its "women-only spaces", and that it would defend the legal claim being brought against it. Now, in a joint announcement, Sarah, whose online identity is Sarah Surviving, and the Survivors' Network, say they have come to an agreement before the case was due to go to trial in September. The new group for biological women will exclude trans men (born female but identifying as men) and trans women (born male but identifying as women) as well as non-binary people (who don't identify as either men or women). The statement says the new peer support group in Brighton for biological women will run in addition to the original group that allows trans and non-binary people to attend. "For some biological women, such a space is imperative for their healing and acknowledges their trauma," write the charity's co-chairs on its website. The new service will run as a 12-month pilot scheme, funded by the Office of Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner. On X, Sarah Surviving wrote "This is the best possible outcome for sexual violence survivors in our city." Woman suing rape charity in trans row (June 2022)
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
Transgender row rape charity starts new service for biological women
A rape crisis charity at the heart of a row over whether trans women can attend support sessions for women has announced it is launching a new service for women which will exclude transgender 2022 a woman known as "Sarah" told BBC News she was suing Brighton-based Survivors' Network because she felt uncomfortable talking about her own abuse in front of a trans woman who had joined the charity, which provides support services for survivors of sexual violence in Sussex, says it will now run a new group for biological women who live as women, alongside its existing meetings that allow trans and non-binary people to take this year, a UK Supreme Court ruling said single-sex services should be reserved for people of the same biological sex. Sarah told the BBC in 2002 she had been sexually abused as a child and then raped when in her had approached the group for support after coming into contact with the man she said had attacked her."I was finding it really hard to cope," she said at the said she had found the sessions helpful and supportive at first. She called them a "safe space".However, a trans woman - a biological male who identified as a woman - started attending the support group for victims of sexual abuse and says the trans woman presented as typically male in the way she looked and dressed, and Sarah felt uncomfortable in her presence."I don't trust men because I was raped by a man," she said at the time. "I don't necessarily trust that men are always who they say they are."Sarah stopped attending the the time, Survivors' Network said trans women were welcome into all its "women-only spaces", and that it would defend the legal claim being brought against in a joint announcement, Sarah, whose online identity is Sarah Surviving, and the Survivors' Network, say they have come to an agreement before the case was due to go to trial in new group for biological women will exclude trans men (born female but identifying as men) and trans women (born male but identifying as women) as well as non-binary people (who don't identify as either men or women). The statement says the new peer support group in Brighton for biological women will run in addition to the original group that allows trans and non-binary people to attend."For some biological women, such a space is imperative for their healing and acknowledges their trauma," write the charity's co-chairs on its website. The new service will run as a 12-month pilot scheme, funded by the Office of Sussex Police and Crime X, Sarah Surviving wrote "This is the best possible outcome for sexual violence survivors in our city."
Channel 4
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Channel 4
‘More important than it's ever been': why Trans Pride matters
Thousands of trans and non-binary people are expected to flood the streets of central London tomorrow, along with their supporters, for London Trans+ Pride. The theme this year is Existence and Resistance, in response to the UK Supreme Court ruling in April, that women should be defined under equality legislation by their biological gender. Producer: Cat Mcshane Editor: Sophie Larkin-Tannett
