September 26, 2013
Ireland

Thoroughbred Breeders oppose wind farm plans

Leinster Leader | 26 September 2013 | www.leinsterleader.ie

The Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association (ITBA) has officially come out against plans to build up to 2,000 wind turbines across the midlands.

There are fears that thousands of jobs in the horse industry will be put in jeopardy.

A statement released last Friday September 20 stressed at a meeting of the ITBA Council on Thursday it was agreed the Association oppose the intended wind turbine projects in the midlands.

ITBA Manager, Shane O’Dwyer, said “The Association office has had a flood of calls in recent weeks from our members concerned about these turbines. As a member-driven association it is important that we respond to what we are hearing: the size of the turbines at 185 metres and the scale of the project with over 2,000 spread across four counties threatens the beauty of the Irish landscape in the heart of one of Ireland’s main bloodstock regions.

“All of the energy the turbines generate would be for the British grid. We are not opposed to renewable energy but this project is incompatible with breeding, raising and training thoroughbreds.”

Based in Kill, the ITBA has over 2,000 members nationwide with over 250 in Kildare.

At the ITBA information meeting earlier this month, Professor Alun Evans from Queens University noted anecdotal evidence from Portugal about possible deformities of horses near wind turbines. However, he acknowledged there were no peer reviewed studies on horses, but he did express concerns. Element Power responded; “That’s the very point, there is no credible research to this effect so he is actually admitting that he is making spurious claims based on nothing.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/09/26/thoroughbred-breeders-oppose-wind-farm-plans/