September 11, 2013
Ireland

Kildare group call for independent wind farm study

Niamh O’Donoghue | Leinster Leader | 11 September 2013 | www.leinsterleader.ie

A Kildare anti-wind farm group is calling for a moratorium on large wind farms pending an independent study into the possible affects of turbines.

South Kildare Against Spin (SKAS) was formed at a meeting in Kildangan last Wednesday, September 4.

“An attendance of circa 100 people, including public representatives discussed issues such as health impact, impact on the bloodstock industry, impact on property prices and amenity, impact on tourism, and impact on flora and fauna,” said a statement.

“We feel that there are many unanswered questions about these projects and wind turbines in general.”

The group said it attended the ITBA meeting where Professor Alun Evans explained the correlation between low frequency noise and sleep deprivation. “Professor Evans also stated that adverse effects could be witnessed in animals, which raises many concerns, in particular with regard to our bloodstock industry, a significant employer in Kildare and beyond,” it added.

It stressed the wind industry “accused those opposing the project of scare mongering, however when entirely separate and independent experts raise the same concerns it is more than coincidence.”

SKAS is calling on Minister James Reilly to get involved. It wants independent studies to be carried out on health implications for humans and animals, in particular horses to determine setbacks from residential areas and stud farms. It has also called for an independent study on property prices, tourism and amenity values as well as a cost benefit analysis.

“We should have learned from recent history on this island that lack of regulation and rushing headlong into irreversible courses of action is not a wise strategy. Wind energy will be around for a long time to come, however our own and future generations will have to live with the consequences of our hasty decisions,” it said.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/09/11/kildare-group-call-for-independent-wind-farm-study/