November 21, 2013
Ireland

Kilberry hears grim Wexford turbine tale

Leinster Leader | 21 November 2013 | www.leinsterleader.ie/

Two years ago, life changed forever for Philip Hickey and his wife when a wind farm was built 370m from his home in Wexford.

Philip told a public meeting in Kilberry last week (Wednesday November 13) about his experiences since then.

“Sitting at my kitchen table, I can see four turbines, there are maybe the bones of 40 turbines in total. They are constantly spinning,” he told the Leinster Leader.

He explained how the constant noise could be heard, even when his double glazed windows are closed.

“It’s a low frequency noise. You can hear the engine hum and the blades. The faster they turn, the louder they get, and they are going 24 hours a day.”

He said the wind turbine company had installed a mechanism to tackle shadow flicker. However, Philip said this does not work all of the time. He explained that from October through to March are the worst months as the sun is lower in the sky.

“Sometimes, it’s like being at a disco here,” he said.

The turbines are 85m high at Ballindaggin. Mr Hickey advised locals in Kilberry to get involved with the action groups in Kildare which are campaigning against the wind farm developments.

Bord Na Mona plans to build 600 to 700 160m turbines in West Kildare and East Offaly. Element Power plans to construct 750 185m turbines across five counties including West Kildare.

The wind energy companies have said thousands of people live happily beside wind farms all over the world. They deny there are any negative affects.

In the meantime, South Kildare Against Spin, North Kildare Against Spin and Rathangan Against Spin are all preparing submissions to the Government’s Renewable Energy Export Policy.

Kildare County Council is preparing its draft recommendations for a variation on the county development plan on wind energy. This is due before the December meeting. The Government’s new draft wind energy guidelines are also due to be published soon.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/11/21/kilberry-hears-grim-wexford-turbine-tale/