Wind Power News: Ireland
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They are the products of the organizations or individuals noted and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.
Supreme Court quashes permission for Co Clare wind farm
The Supreme Court has overturned permission for a wind farm in Co Clare due to An Bord Pleanála’s failure to make “complete, definitive and precise” findings required by European law for a valid Appropriate Assessment of the project. The judgment on the challenge by local resident Kathleen Connelly to the proposed development of six wind turbines at Coor West, Shanvogh, addresses important issues of Irish and European law concerning the extent of the Board’s obligations to give reasons for its . . . Complete story »
Planning approval for Co Clare wind farm overturned
The Supreme Court has overturned planning permission for a Co Clare wind farm due to An Bord Pleanála’s failure to make “complete, definitive and precise” findings required under European law. Permission for the project, a development of six wind turbines at Coor West, Shanvogh, was initially turned down by Clare County Council. The developer then appealed to the board, which approved the project. When making its decision, the board rejected its inspector’s recommendation to refuse permission. It disagreed with various . . . Complete story »
Leitrim man loses appeal over criminal damage to wind farm site
A man jailed for damaging equipment used to build a wind farm in rural Roscommon has lost an appeal over attempts to change his plea from ‘guilty’ to ‘not guilty’. Conor Judge (31), with an address in Maynooth, Co Kildare, and originally from Kilnagross, Co. Leitrim, had pleaded guilty at Roscommon Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of theft and one count of criminal damage at a worksite connected to the construction of a wind farm near Arigna, Co. Roscommon . . . Complete story »
EU’s top court to rule on Tipperary wind farm planning
The EU’s top court is to rule later this month on whether An Bord Pleanála properly assessed the environmental impact on the habitat of the hen harrier of a proposed €80m wind farm in Tipperary. The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has said the challenge by environmentalists to the proposed wind farm (which would be within a designated special protection area) is likely to set case law on wind farms and protected habitats. An Bord Pleanála had . . . Complete story »
The silent clearance of North Kerry
North Kerry has become the ‘renewable energy capital of Ireland’, by default rather than strategic design. This bountiful traditional farming landscape has been obliterated by an industrial landscape of wind turbines, situated in random pattern, at the behest of developers, and not the wider community. Of 411 turbines with full planning permission in Kerry, only 200 had been built as of May 2017. Since then another 100 have gone up, many in my own community. Between Beal (where I live) . . . Complete story »
Consultation underway on new Kildare 14 turbine wind farm
Proposals for a scaled back 14 turbine Kildare wind farm are up for discussion as Element Power plans to embark on a major public consultation campaign. The company revealed last week that it had hand delivered letters to 180 homes in the Drehid area informing local residents that it is proposing to apply for permission for the 50mw Drehid section of the previously refused Maighne Wind Farm. That application for 47 turbines was refused by An Bord Pleanála due to . . . Complete story »
Wind scheme decision now on fast track
A planned €100m wind farm by Bord na Móna and its Powergen subsidiary in south Longford has been designated a strategic infrastructure development by An Bord Pleanála, paving the way for a rapid decision on the 90MW scheme. Bord na Móna said the project would be one of the largest wind farms in the country, and the first in Co Longford. As strategic infrastructure, a planning application for the Derryadd wind farm can now be made directly to An Bord . . . Complete story »
An Bord Pleanala grant permission for wind farm in Donegal
An Bord Pleanala has granted permission for a wind farm at Meenbog, Croaghonagh and Cashelnavean, in Donegal. The details of the application were published on the agency’s website today. The proposals had been strongly opposed by some residents in the area. Link to the full statement available here: http://www.pleanala.ie/news/300460%20Meenbog%20Decision.pdf Complete story »
Council to get legal advice
The executive of Waterford City and County Council is to seek legal advice, after councillors voted by a large majority to alter a wind-energy strategy map on the county development plan, reportedly to prevent a wind turbine development. The townland of Knockanore in west Waterford is being targeted for a massive wind-farm proposal by German energy company, Innogy, through its subsidiary, Innogy Renewables Ireland Ltd. Fianna Fáil councillor James Tobin, who lives in the locality, tabled an emergency motion at . . . Complete story »
Wind farm plans criticised
Westmeath Councillor Sorca Clarke (Sinn Féin) has launched a scathing attack on the ongoing efforts by Element Power to erect an industrial wind farm on cutaway bog in Coole. The Mullingar-based councillor was speaking at her party’s Ard Fheis at the weekend, in favour of a motion that would prevent industrial wind turbines from being located close to people’s homes. Motion 75, which was tabled by the Barnes McCormack cumann in Mullingar, supported a Sinn Féin Bill tabled in the . . . Complete story »
