Wind Power News: Ireland
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They are the products of the organizations or individuals noted and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.
Locals divided over plan for €200m wind farm
Plans for an “industrial-scale” €200 million wind farm is dividing opinion among locals in a coastal west Clare community. Seventy-nine landowners are set to benefit from annual rental payments from West Coastal Wind Power Ltd for the wind farm. It will have turbines reaching over 400ft in height. A number of locals have lodged submissions to An Bord Pleanála in favour of the plan, with others voicing their opposition. Bodies to make submissions on the plan include Birdwatch Ireland, Friends . . .
Former Quinn wind energy company in administration
A wind energy company which was controlled by members of Sean Quinn’s family has been placed into administration. Mr Quinn, formerly Ireland’s richest man, faces bankruptcy proceedings in Dublin on Monday after his NI bankruptcy was annulled. He lost control of his business empire last year when former Anglo Irish Bank appointed a receiver over a £2bn debt. Some Quinn family assets remained outside the receivership process. These included wind farms and a golf course. An administrator was appointed to . . .
Hollyford windfarm appealed
A windfarm given the go-ahead by South Tipperary County Council, has been appealed to An Bord Pleanala. Ecopower Developments Ltd. was given the green light to build two wind turbines, with an overall height of up to 126m, along with access roads and ancillary site works, at Glenough Upper on November 25th. The full address is given as Glenough Upper/Lackenacreena/Foilmacduff/Glenpaudeen/Glencarbry/, Hollyford. The Council attached 17 conditions to the development. An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was submitted with the application. The . . .
Coilte: trust, forests and windfarms
The annual Coilte Enterprise report for 2010 made for interesting reading. It reveals the extent of the group’s ventures and interests in industries outside of forestry. Notably, there’s the wind energy aspect. In 2010, Coilte reports it secured planning permission for sites in Cloosh Valley in County Galway and Raheenleagh in County Wicklow. And, simultaneously, the organization was in advanced stages of working through planning application for additional wind farms in six counties. Such activity supports a ‘sales pipeline of . . .
Charlestown wind turbine gets green light despite objections
An electricity generating wind turbine, which attracted numerous objections, has been given the go ahead in Charlestown. Wind Energy Direct plans to erect the 85-metre high turbine at Brackloonagh but must comply with 27 planning conditions before they can start work. The application, which was submitted to Mayo Co Council last June, attracted six separate observations. Marie Osvald Caffrey objected to the erection of the turbine close to TJ Grady’s factory on the basis of its visual impact on her . . .
Couple declares wind farm plight
Ballindaggin residents Philip and Catherine Hickey have declared their opposition to the wind farm they feel has blighted their lives. The couple failed recently in their objection to planning permission being granted for an entrance to the six turbines scattered across the hill behind their neat bungalow. However, the Hickeys are considering an appeal to An Bord Pleanála and they have not ruled out the possibility of taking their case to the courts. They insist that the nearest of the . . .
EirGrid challenges Laois lines policy
EirGrid has brought a High Court challenge to Laois County Council’s policy requiring all new power lines over 400kv to be placed underground. Leave to bring the judicial review was granted yesterday by Mr Justice Michael Peart on an ex parte basis (one side only represented). The matter was returned for mention to next month. EirGrid Plc claims the policy, adopted by the council last October as part of its county development plan for 2011-2017, makes it impossible for the . . .
Concern over electricity grid plan
Galway County Councillors have raised concerns about a planned €240 million investment in the electricity transmission system in the West. At Monday’s council meeting, representatives from national electricity grid operator EirGrid informed councillors that it intends to begin public consultation on the Grid West scheme next year. County Manager Martina Moloney said the project, which will be around 120km in length, is needed to sustain development in the region and take advantage of sustainable energy resources in the West. EirGrid . . .
Irish-Scottish wind deal – cartoon
Windfarm gets planning approval despite objections from residents
An Bord Pleanála, granted permission this week for the development of a windfarm near Ballylongford, despite concerns raised by locals who feared the turbines would be noisey and would take from the natural beauty of the rural area. Scottish and Southern Energy Renewables (SSER) were this week granted planning by the planning appeals board for the construction of nine wind turbines, with a tip height of 125 metres, at Lenamore, Ballylongford. Kerry County Council had refused permission for the windfarm . . .
