March 4, 2020
Ireland

Bord na Móna planning wind farm in Ballivor Bog Group area

Bord na Móna planning wind farm in Ballivor Bog | Brian O'Loughlin | Westmeath Examiner | March 3, 2020 | www.westmeathexaminer.ie

Bord na Móna has confirmed plans to develop a windfarm in the Ballivor Bog Group as part of its decarbonisation strategy.

In a statement issued last week, the firm said that while exact number and location of turbines in the Ballivor Bog Group, which includes bogs in Ballivor, Bracklin, Carranstown, Lisclogher and Lisclogher West, is yet to be determined as the project is at an early stage, it estimates that it could be similar in scale to the 21 turbine wind farm proposed for Derrinlough in Offaly.

The proposed height of the turbines at Derrinlough is 185m and the firm estimates that between 100 and 120 jobs will be created during the construction phase and a further six to eight maintenance roles when it is operational.

Bord na Móna says that the proposed windfarm in Ballivor is “part of the accelerated development pipeline of renewable energy and other assets outlined in the company’s Brown to Green Strategy”.

“A key objective of this strategy involves using our land for a range of new purposes including the development of green, sustainable energy sources. This will assist with Ireland’s commitment to generate 70% renewable electricity by 2030. Other key parts of company strategy include an extensive peatland rehabilitation programme, expansion of recycling operations and the development of new business operations including the aquaculture, birchwater and herbs projects,” it said.

The firm began door to door house calls in the vicinity of the wind farm recently and is also hosting three community information sessions in the coming week to answer people’s questions. The first event is in Ballivor Community Centre, Mullingar Road, Ballivor on Tuesday March 10, followed information sessions in Raharney GAA Clubhouse on March 11 and St Patrick’s Hall, Delvin on March 12. All of the information sessions will run from 5 to 9pm.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2020/03/04/bord-na-mona-planning-wind-farm-in-ballivor-bog-group-area/