June 20, 2013
Ireland

Wind energy causes reaction

Longford Leader | 20 June 2013 | www.longfordleader.ie

A new group has been established in south Longford as the wind energy campaign steps up a gear.

The Legan and Ballycloghan Wind Turbine Awareness Group, while only in its infancy consists of a number of local people who have come together to call for full impact studies on wind energy.

This follows on from the news in April, that a number of sites had been earmarked for wind turbines, after management of Element Power – the company behind the €8bn Greenwire wind energy export project – held a meeting with senior officials at Longford County Council to discuss the viability of certain lands in the county for wind energy.

“We feel that we and the local community need to become more informed about the full implications of these wind farms, some of which are purported to be 185m high,” Edel Kelly, PRO, of the awareness group told the Leader. “We do not have enough information and although the speculators have been invited to each of the community meetings, they have so far not responded. We feel that these wind farms are being foisted on the community without full consultation with the local people.”

Ms Kelly said that members of the group planned to discuss the matter with local area representatives over the coming days, and also highlighted the importance of full impact studies being carried. “We are not against alternative energy, nor indeed wind turbines, but what is proposed for the local area is too large and intrusive, and will impact negatively on the whole community,” she continued. “Private speculators have no concern for heritage, tourism or people’s health, locally.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/06/20/wind-energy-causes-reaction/