May 3, 2023
Ireland

Longford residents opposed to wind turbine development

02 May 2023 longfordleader.ie

Longford residents are objecting to a proposed wind turbine development.

Natural Forces Renewable Energy Ltd (Natural Forces) have lodged a planning application with Longford County Council seeking to construct one Enercon E138 Wind Energy Converter on an 81m tower with an electrical rating of 4.2MW and an overall tip height of 149.38m at Lissanore, Co Longford.

Lissanore is located between Edgeworthstown and Lisryan, and local residents have expressed ‘huge concern’ about the proposal.

They are unhappy with the ‘excessive height’ at 149.38m of the proposed wind turbine and the impact it will have visually and on property prices.

The issues of ‘adverse health effects’, ‘noise pollution’ and ‘shadow flicker’ have also been highlighted in an objection already submitted to the local authority against the planning application which was received by the County Council on April 19.

Planners are due to adjudicate on the application by June 13 next and the closing date for receipt of submissions from the general public or interested parties is May 23.

Other concerned residents say the ‘massive’ wind turbine being proposed will be significantly higher than the Dublin Spire which is 120 metres high.

They are worried about the impact on local wildlife and believe a wind turbine on this scale isn’t in keeping with the efforts to promote Edgeworthstown, the home of Maria Edgeworth, as a tourism destination.

The proposed development will also entail the installation of the hard standing area for the Wind Energy Converter and the installation of underground circuit cables which will run in underground cable trenches (c.1.2m deep), from the proposed Wind Energy Converter to the proposed substation building on the site.

Natural Forces Renewable Energy Ltd also intend to construct a substation building which will be located c. 98m from the proposed wind turbine and surrounded by stock proof fencing. It will be a single storey building, measuring 55m2 and c.4.8m in height. “Construction of proposed internal site access track, constructed from permeable material and which will run from the site entrance to the Wind Energy Converter hard standing area.”

Also included in the planning application is all associated ancillary infrastructure and preparatory works such as provision of the site entrance.

On its website, Natural Forces says it is a private independent power producer that delivers renewable energy projects in partnership with local communities across Canada and Ireland.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2023/05/03/longford-residents-opposed-to-wind-turbine-development/