Wind power more dangerous than nuclear?

Wind power is far more dangerous for energy company employees than nuclear, a recent report has revealed.

Wind turbine related incidents have caused a total of 41 worker fatalities, reports Caithness Windfarm Information forum.

Causes include falling from turbine towers and accidents whilst transporting turbines on the motorway.

In addition, sixteen members of the public have also been killed by wind turbine related incidents.

Nuclear power, by comparison, has never caused a single worker injury in the United States.

Accidents caused by wind turbines are commonplace.

The report cites 139 incidents of blade failure, 110 incidents of fire, 60 incidents of structural failure, and 24 incidents of ‘ice throw’ with human injury.

Blade failure can hurl turbine blades up to quarter of a mile, whilst fires are difficult to tackle and easily spread due to the height of turbines.

Ice throw is caused by ice forming on the blades then being hurled at deathly speed when the wind picks up.

Germany has recorded 880 incidents of ice throw in its 13 year history of wind power.

According to environmental blog Treehugger, the report reveals how scared the nuclear industry is of renewable energy.

“The desperation of the nuclear advocates is becoming more and more obvious,” writes Treehugger blogger Eric Leech. “We must be on the right track then!”