Wind Power News: Ireland
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational effort to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
Planners turn down Connemara wind turbine project
The construction of half a dozen turbines in Connemara has been rejected by planners on the basis that the area is not zoned for wind development projects. The proposed development was for the erection of six wind turbines in the townlands of Tullaghmore, Tawnaghbeg, Tullaghaboy and Lurgan. The site for the proposed wind farm is located less than three miles from Maam Cross, extending to around 400 acres of predominantly blanket bog and upland heath. The development would have also . . . Complete story »
People living near wind farms are sacrificial lambs to greed
Lambs are frolicking as Easter approaches, though there are sacrificial lambs across this land in the form of those desperately unlucky folk who live close to wind farms and have to bear the brunt of the devastating downsides for the sake of their supposed benefits for the rest of us. They describe “nose bleeds” and other health issues that accompany the shadow flicker and noise of industrial scale turbines as a never-ending nightmare. For there is no escape, what with . . . Complete story »
Planning refused for Clare wind farm due to hen harrier concerns
The planning appeals board has refused planning permission for a 10-turbine wind farm in west Clare due to concerns about the potential impact on the hen harrier, a protected bird species. This follows An Bord Pleanála refusing planning permission to the 557ft tall wind farm 8km from the west Clare coastline. As part of the proposal by MCRE Windfarm Ltd for the project at Cahermurphy near the west Clare village of Kilmihil, the removal 63ha of breeding and foraging area . . . Complete story »
Coillte refused permission for Carlow wind turbines
An Bord Pleanála has refused planning permission to Coillte for the construction of a seven turbine 583 ft high wind farm for an upland site in Co Carlow. The appeals board ruling upholds a decision by Carlow County Council to refuse planning permission for the 38.5MW wind farm in March 2021 after receiving over 280 third party submissions. Coillte lodged a first party appeal against the refusal and the Irish Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (IHPA), Martina Kinsella, Patrick McLean, . . . Complete story »
Government to seek advice on wind farm noise levels
What is or is not acceptable noise from wind farms is to be the subject of a €100,000 review by the Department of the Environment. A tender has been put out for a consultant to provide advice on what is an acceptable noise level from wind farms. The contract is for technical acoustic input into a “review and redraft” of the noise elements of existing wind energy development guidelines (WEDGs). The Government has been working since 2013 to issue revised . . . Complete story »
Nolan says sacrificing communities to meet Government’s wind turbine ambitions will not be tolerated
Independent TD for Laois Offaly Carol Nolan has said that she is deeply concerned at reports that the Cabinet is preparing to sign off on a review of regulations that would make it easier for inshore wind turbines to be constructed in and around rural communities in order to meet wind energy targets contained within the Government’s climate action plan. Deputy Nolan has been working with local communities in Offaly, including groups opposed to the development of the Leamonaghan Wind . . . Complete story »
‘Nobody is listening to the people who are living with wind turbines’
Onshore wind solutions are a lazy way out for the Government to reach energy targets, a Kerry councillor has insisted and he warned Environment Minister, Eamon Ryan, that he facing a “hell of a backlash” over plans to relax the planning around wind turbines. Cllr Jackie Healy-Rae said that Government continue to have no understanding on the impact some of the wind energy applications are having on communities nor do they care. Currently a major review of the rules governing . . . Complete story »
Planning failure at Derrybrien wind farm reaches total cost to State of €6.2 million
The state must pay the European Union another €1.245 million over a failure to comply with environmental rules at the Derrybrien wind farm in Co Galway. The amount comes on top of an initial lump sum of €5 million that was paid in January 2020. The Derrybrien wind farm, which ceased operations last year, was originally constructed two decades ago. A landslide during construction in 2003 brought to the site to attention and the Court of Justice ruled in 2008 . . . Complete story »
Group sounds warning on impact of proposed Clare windfarm
The proposed development of a new wind farm near Bridgetown will result in an average of one truck passing the village every 90 seconds during an eight-hour day, a local lobby group has claimed. RWE Renewables Ireland has submitted a planning application to construct eight wind turbines with a blade tip height range from 169 metres to 176 metres, a hub height range from 102 to 110 metres and a rotor diameter of 138 meters, the length of a GAA . . . Complete story »
Community set to resist planned wind farm in Kilkenny
Locals opposed to a planned wind farm just a few kilometres outside of Kilkenny City are continuing their campaign to stop the development by EDF Renewables Ireland, which is wholly owned by the French energy giant, EDF Group. The community was out in force last Thursday evening at a public meeting, organised by the Save Our Hills group, at Johnswell Hall. Local auctioneer, Michael Boyd, who lives just under one kilometre from a proposed wind turbine, told the meeting that . . . Complete story »
