Scottish & Southern Energy is advocating more hydro-electricity projects because wind farms need instant back-up when the wind abates (Scrutineer, 27 March). This is most interesting to those of us endowed with memory, for we've come around a full circle: first wind farms were said to be necessary because hydro would have required the destruction of treasured ecosystems. So we're building wind farms instead, which ruin valuable peatlands, wildlife habitats, and tourists' preferred landscapes.

It is hard to believe no-one had thought of that before. But what is precious is the conclusion of the article: "... something has to give". Well, something already has: could it be the credibility of Europe's energy policy ?