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.
Councillor unhappy with lack of info ahead of wind turbine discussions
The Gweebarra Conservation Group has joined what it says is a the growing chorus of community and environment groups in Donegal concerned at the amount of ‘preferred areas for wind farm development’ included in the new draft County Development Plan. Councillors will vote on the plan, which will govern development in the county up to 2018, in June of this year. The wind energy element of the plan will be discussed by members ahead of the vote but Cllr Bernard . . .
Power line is likely to run through Co. Wicklow
A route through county Wicklow, linking Cork and Kildare, has been identified as the optimum solution for a massive €500 million high-voltage power line linking Leinster and Munster. Great Island in neighbouring Wexford has been highlighted as the possible link-up location for the pylon route which Eirgrid claims will provide for increased future demand for electricity in Wicklow as well as counties Dublin, Kildare, Laois, Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Waterford, Tipperary and east Cork. Under initial proposals the 400kv Grid Link . . .
Group’s warning on Donegal wind farms
A Donegal conservation group has warned that half the rural townlands in the county have been rezoned as ‘preferred areas for wind farm development’ in the draft County Development Plan 2012-2018. The Gweebarra Conservation Group says councillors will vote on the plan in June of this year. “The planners’ decision to rezone over 2,300 townlands, many containing Special Areas of Conservation and areas of High Scenic Amenity, was made with little public consultation as the clause was inserted into the . . .
Sliabh Ban turbines to go ahead
There has been widespread dismay at the An Bord Pleanála decision to grant full planning permission for 20 wind turbines and three masts to be built on Sliabh Bán, County Roscommon’s highest peak. According to Roscommon County Councillor (Ind) Tom Crosby, the move will destroy “the future potential of activity tourism such as hill climbing, pony-trekking, bird watching, walking etc. on Sliabh Bán”. He also commented on the “visual impact for future tourism”, stating that the turbines and masts would . . .
Wind farms lobby TDs over turbines
The Irish Wind Energy Association has confirmed that it is lobbying against a Private Members’ Bill by Senator John Kelly (Labour) that would place mandatory restrictions on the distances of wind turbines from homes. Kenneth Matthews, the association’s chief executive, told The Irish Times that the proposed legislation would have a “repressive” effect on the development of wind energy by substantially reducing the number of potential development sites. As a result of the scattered nature of housing in the countryside, . . .
Eirgrid plans €500m pylon corridor across southeast
Eirgrid has begun a public consultation process to map a suitable corridor for a €500 million high-voltage power line to serve south Leinster and east Munster. The 400kV line will link stations at Knockraha in Cork, Great Island in Co Wexford and Dunstown in Co Kildare. The Grid Link project will provide for increased future demand for electricity in Dublin, Kildare, Laois, Carlow, Kilkenny, Wicklow, Wexford, Waterford, Tipperary and east Cork. Speaking at Cork County Hall yesterday, Minister for Communications, . . .
Keeping wind farms from homes
I refer to Frank McDonald’s article (Home News, April 9th) on Senator John Kelly’s Wind Turbines Bill 2012. Despite the Minister of State Jan O’Sullivan’s concerns regarding the need to “consider the practicality of introducing binding legislation” for this area, Senator Kelly’s proposal is timely. Shortly after wind turbines began to be erected close to dwellings, complaints emerged of adverse effects on health. Sleep disturbance was the principal complaint. These reports are commonly dismissed as subjective and anecdotal but there . . .
Bill would keep wind farms far from homes
The Oireachtas is to consider in detail shortly a Bill, tabled by Labour Senator John Kelly, that would impose restrictions on the location of wind turbines near people’s homes. Under the Bill, which has received support from all sides in the Seanad, smaller turbines would have to be placed more than 500 metres from a residence while larger turbines of 50m-150m would have to be a minimum of 1km to 2km away. “At present, the distance is 500 metres, a . . .
Green energy company looks to Offaly for first time
Renewable energy company Gaeltech Energy Developments Ltd has looked to Offaly for the first time to assess the feasibility of a wind farm here. The Cavan-based company has applied to Offaly County Council for planning permission to erect a 100m high anemometer mast to monitor and record wind speeds and characteristics for five years. The application, which was submitted to Offaly planners on March 27, relates to a site at Stonestown, Cloghan. According to Catherine Keogan from Galetech the site . . .
Ex-planner objects to approval for Cork harbour wind turbines
A former senior planner with Cork County Council is among those appealing the council’s decision to approve plans by four pharmachem companies for six very large wind turbines in the Ringaskiddy area of Cork harbour. Separate applications by De Puy, GSK, Janssen and Novartis for turbines with a tip height of 150 metres were approved by assistant county manager Declan Daly against the advice of senior planner Paul Murphy, who recommended that permission be refused. Mr Murphy noted that Cork . . .
