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Wind Power News: Northern 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.
Emergency work at site of peat slide substantially completed
Emergency work to prevent further environmental damage following November’s huge peat slide at the site of a new windfarm in Co Donegal have been “substantially completed”. Tonnes of bogland, vegetation and trees were swept away in the peat slide which started at the Meenbog wind farm near Stranorlar. Dramatic footage of trees being swept downhill was widely shared on social media. Environmental agencies said the incident had impacted on fisheries, flora and fauna in the Mourne Beg and Derg Rivers . . . Complete story »
Green energy: NI’s wind turbines generate controversy
Fifteen years ago, hardly any of the electricity we use in Northern Ireland came from renewable sources like wind and solar power. Polluting fossil fuels, many of them sourced from distant lands, were our staple. But all that has changed. In the year to March 2020, renewable sources provided almost 47% of our power, easily hitting the Northern Ireland Executive’s target of 40% by 2020. It is a remarkable achievement, good news for the environment and our energy security. But . . . Complete story »
Ministers left shocked at peat slide devastation
Ministers Poots and McConalogue were shocked to see the devastation caused by a recent peat slide that has polluted the Mourne Beg and Derg Rivers. DAERA Minister Edwin Poots and DAFM Minister Charlie McConalogue TD visited Meenbog, Ballybofey, which is within the site of a wind farm that is under construction. The wind farm developer has suspended all works at the site with the exception of those that relate to mitigating the impact of the bog slide and reducing the . . . Complete story »
Get turbine down without delay – Knock Iveagh campaigners’ delight as council calls for removal
The Friends of Knock Iveagh have expressed their delight at receiving the backing of the local council in their campaign to have a wind turbine at the historic Knock Iveagh removed. Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough (ABC) Council ruled that it is having an adverse environmental impact on the integrity of the setting of the scheduled monument at Knock Iveagh and the visual amenity and landscape character of the site. The council will now be writing to the Department for . . . Complete story »
Council urged to heed locals’ concerns after Meenbog bogslide
Councillor Gary Doherty is calling on Donegal County Council to seek updated wind energy guidelines to prevent any future disasters such as the Meenbog bogslide occurring again. Investigations are ongoing following the major land slippage near a wind farm development outside Ballybofey on 13th November. Significant pollution occurred at Mourne Beg River and downstream catchments as a result. The following week, local residents were “absolutely incredulous” when they received a letter from the wind farm developers telling them of plans . . . Complete story »
Renewable energy body lodges complaint over NI Audit Office report
The renewables industry has lodged a formal complaint about a Northern Ireland Audit Office report that found excessive subsidies are being paid to owners of wind turbines. Industry representative body RenewableNI said that the work was “not fit for purpose” and should be disregarded. But the Audit Office has “strongly refuted” the assertion. RenewableNI took issue with the report published in October. It focused on stand-alone single wind turbines, not big wind farms. The report used the example of a . . . Complete story »
Amazon staying tight lipped on landslide at wind farm construction site
Internet giant Amazon is staying tight lipped after construction was suspended at a windfarm it is invested in, following a landslide. A peat slippage at Meenbog on the Donegal-Tyrone border has polluted rivers in both NI and the Republic leaving angling groups and fishermen seriously concerned about a mass fishkill. Ulster Angling Federation said in a statement: “182 acres of Sitka trees had been felled to build the turbines. “To date there has been losses of fish at a fish . . . Complete story »
`Watershed moment’ for protection of Neolithic Co Down burial site
The first formal stage in the removal of a controversial wind turbine built alongside a protected ceremonial site at the centre of an ancient Irish kingdom has been passed with cross-community political support. The turbine at Knock Iveagh outside Rathfriland, Co Down was put up in 2017 after planning permission was granted by the former Department of the Environment four years earlier. However, heritage experts were not consulted about the application, which was for land beside a 5,000-year-old neolithic burial . . . Complete story »
Campaigners’ joy as Council back calls to remove wind turbine from ancient Knock Iveagh site
Campaigners were last night celebrating after Council backed their calls for the removal of a wind turbine on the ancient Knock Iveagh site outside Rathfriland. The structure was erected in 2017, four years after permission was granted by the Environmental Department. The issue surrounds its proximity to a 5,000-year-old neolithic burial site. However, Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council – who have assumed planning powers since the local government reshuffle – have asked the Department for Infrastructure to discontinue . . . Complete story »
Knock Iveagh: Stormont is asked to remove wind turbine at ancient site
A Stormont department is to be asked to force the removal of a controversial wind turbine built beside a protected ancient burial ground. The turbine is at Knock Iveagh outside Rathfriland, County Down. It was erected in 2017, four years after permission was granted by planners at the former Department of the Environment. It is beside a 5,000-year-old neolithic burial site which is a scheduled historic monument. Heritage experts who look after monuments were not consulted during the planning process . . . Complete story »
