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.
Outrage at second wind farm plan
A Donegal community has vowed to fight another large wind farm development 18 months after a similar development was knocked back. Finn Valley Wind Action says it will “vigorously oppose” plans that could see 36 wind turbines built between Castlefin and Barnesmore Gap. Planree Ltd is planning to build between 19 and 36 turbines at Meenbog, Lismullyduff and surrounding townlands, with some of the turbines planned to be situated close to Lough Mourne near Barnesmore Gap in what it says . . .
ABO lodge appeal on 11 Industrial turbines in South Wicklow
Fianna Fáil TD for Wicklow Pat Casey has expressed his disgust at the decision of ABO Windfarm Ltd to lodge an appeal with An Bord Pleanala against the decision of Wicklow County Council to refuse permission for an 11 turbine wind farm in rural South Wicklow. “This is the second application by this company against the wishes of the communities living in South Wicklow. On both occasions the communities were outraged that their rural landscape would be totally transformed by . . .
Mixed reaction to scaling back of €240m Grid West project
EirGrid’s decision to scale back its €240 million Grid West transmission project has elicited a mixed reaction from business and community groups in the west. Ireland’s electricity grid operator has decided that the contentious 400kV scheme proposed in 2012 is no longer needed “due to the lower than expected amounts of wind generation in the north Connacht region”. This means renewable generation can now be connected through the development of a lower 110kV line, carried on poles. EirGrid executives Rosemary . . .
Carthy accuses Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil TDs of ‘rank hypocrisy’ over wind turbine Bill
Sinn Féin MEP Matt Carthy has accused Fianna Fáil of rank hypocrisy for opposing Sinn Féin’s Wind Turbine Bill in the Dáil this week. Matt Carthy said: “The Wind Turbine Bill brought forward by my colleague Brian Stanley TD aimed to ensure that community consultation was central to the development of wind energy in Ireland. “It provided for minimum setback distances and optional co-ownership for local residents. “At local level, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are calling for such measures. . . .
More Fianna Fáil bluster as Wind Turbine Bill rejected – Tóibín
Sinn Féin TD for Meath West, Peadar Tóibín TD has criticised Fianna Fáil for rejecting the Sinn Féin Wind Turbine Bill last night. The Bill sought to ensure that community consultation was integral to the development of wind energy and proposed measures including minimum setback distances and optional co-ownership for local residents. While at national level modest protections such as this safeguarding local communities are being rejected, locally both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael councillors in areas across the state . . .
Portarlington windfarm on Laois Offaly border faces raft of objections
A windfarm planned near Portarlington is due for approval within weeks, and townspeople are urged to object. Portarlington residents are being urged to make themselves aware that a windfarm with huge turbines may go up close to the town, if approved by Offaly County Council. An application for Moanvane Windfarm lodged by renewable energy company Element Power, is due for a decision on November 1. Any objections to it must be made by October 11. Last Wednesday night an information . . .
Locals welcome the chance to voice their opinions on windfarm policy
A decision to invite public submissions on proposals for windfarms has been welcomed by a West Cork group. Members of Crushterra Voluntary Community Group – one of three groups that met with Denis Naughten TD, Minister for Communication, Climate Action and the Environment in Dunmanway recently – expressed their concerns about the proliferation of wind turbines in West Cork. A spokesperson for the Crushterra Voluntary Community Group, Nicola Hassett, welcomed the opportunity to make submissions, saying that they could potentially . . .
Public meeting called over a planned windfarm close to Portarlington
A public meeting is being held in Portarlington this Wednesday night for people who may be concerned at a planning application for a windfarm close to the town, and visible from one of it’s beauty spots. Offaly County Council is considering an application by Moanvane Windfarm Ltd, part of Element Power renewable energy company. The application is for a windfarm of 12 turbines close to the Laois border, visible from Derryounce Lakes. The planned turbines would have a tip height . . .
‘Rights of people are being squashed. It is impossible to take on wind farm firms’
Some nights, Sean Harris is sitting watching the TV and he thinks he hears the fridge humming. On other occasions, he has been out on the road around his home in Ballyduff in West Waterford, and the engine sounds as if it’s a car approaching him from behind. Those are the more benign effects of the Barnafaddock Wind Farm, as he sees it. He is not alone, but neither are his problems shared with huge numbers in his rural community. . . .
Wind farm exceeded blade size, say Waterford residents
Planning regulation and inspection around windfarms is expected to come under further scrutiny following claims that a windfarm in Co Waterford was built with larger blades than allowed for. The Barnafaddock wind in Ballyduff Upper consists of 11 turbines, for which eight were granted permission to include blades of 90m in diameter. Three other turbines on Coillte lands have permission for a 103m diameter. However, residents have complained to Waterford City and County Council that the diameter on all the . . .
