CONSERVATIONISTS IN Co Donegal have criticised An Bord Pleanála for approving plans by businessman PJ Molloy for 13 “industrial” wind turbines in a scenic Gaeltacht area near Glenties.
Mr Molloy had originally sought permission for 35 Vesta-90 turbines, each with a hub height of 80m and a blade diameter of 90m, but Donegal County Council reduced the number to 19 after seeking further information from the developer.
The Department of the Environment had expressed concern that the proposed wind farm “could significantly damage or destroy” the habitats of freshwater pearl mussel, Atlantic salmon and otters – all protected species under the EU habitats directive.
In its decision, which was subject to 22 conditions, the board required the omission of six of the 19 turbines “to reduce the risk of habitat degradation and environmental pollution associated with development in these locations”.
The board decided, by five votes to two, to grant permission having regard to the National Renewable Energy Action Plan to deliver 40 per cent of electricity from renewable resources by 2020 and the department’s planning guidelines on wind energy.
It also took into account the “general suitability” of the site for a wind farm due to the wind resource available there, and the fact that it lay outside the areas excluded for wind farm development under Donegal County Council’s current development plan.
Other reasons given were that the scale and extent of the proposed development had been reduced relative to the topography of the area, and that permission had already been granted to the ESB for a 110-kilovolt transmission line in the vicinity.
However the locally based Gweebarra Conservation Group said: “No one would sanction felling trees in the rain forest to erect wind turbines yet this is precisely what the Government is doing by giving tax incentives to private investors to destroy our hills and bogs. The boglands in these Gaeltacht townlands . . . are just as important as the rain forests in absorbing CO2.
“These are precious habitats that support a large variety of protected species as well as Irish-speaking families who have lived in this beautiful valley for generations.”
It also expressed concern about health dangers associated with the high-voltage power lines needed to transmit the electricity generated by wind farms. “These power lines are proven to increase cancer rates if located within 2km of people’s homes.”
However another objector, Gerry McKenna, said he believed “we did pretty well reducing the number of turbines from 35 to 13”.
These would also be “well out of sight of the beautiful landscape in the area”, he added.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Showing posts with label planning and windfarms. Show all posts
Showing posts with label planning and windfarms. Show all posts
Friday, 4 March 2011
Sunday, 17 October 2010
Permission for €12m windfarm revoked
AN BORD Pleanála yesterday refused planning permission for a €12 million windfarm due to fears it could result in a peat landslide.
The proposed 375ft, eight-turbine windfarm in the Slieve Aughty mountain range in northeast Clare lies 17km south of a windfarm at Derrybrien, Co Galway, which was the scene of a landslide in 2003 that dislodged 450,000 cubic metres of material and which killed 50,000 fish.
Earlier this year, Clare County Council granted planning permission to SWS Energy Ltd at Maghera in the Slieve Aughties for the proposal, in spite of widespread local opposition.
In a submission to An Bord Pleanála, the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board objected to the plan as “it is not possible for the developer to guarantee that a landslide will not occur arising from the construction and operation of the windfarm that would be environmentally catastrophic”.
The fisheries board stated that “three major bogslides have occurred in recent years that have devastated fish stocks and caused significant long-term damage to the aquatic habitat”.
It pointed out: “In all cases, experts had been employed, which suggests that it is not possible to mitigate the risks associated with such works .” An Taisce also raised concerns with An Bord Pleanála that disturbed peat could pollute watercourses and threaten aquatic species.
Appealing the council decision, the Irish Peatland Conservation Council (IPCC) stated: “If the proper stress tests specific to peat soils are not conducted prior to the above proposed development, its construction could lead to a bog burst, leaving Ireland again liable to prosecution under the Environmental Liability Directive.”
Refusing permission, An Bord Pleanála stated it was not satisfied the development “would not prejudice the stability of the peatland on the site of the proposed windfarm or adversely affect the hydrology of the bog in the adjacent Glendree Bog candidate Special Area of Conservation”.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The proposed 375ft, eight-turbine windfarm in the Slieve Aughty mountain range in northeast Clare lies 17km south of a windfarm at Derrybrien, Co Galway, which was the scene of a landslide in 2003 that dislodged 450,000 cubic metres of material and which killed 50,000 fish.
Earlier this year, Clare County Council granted planning permission to SWS Energy Ltd at Maghera in the Slieve Aughties for the proposal, in spite of widespread local opposition.
In a submission to An Bord Pleanála, the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board objected to the plan as “it is not possible for the developer to guarantee that a landslide will not occur arising from the construction and operation of the windfarm that would be environmentally catastrophic”.
The fisheries board stated that “three major bogslides have occurred in recent years that have devastated fish stocks and caused significant long-term damage to the aquatic habitat”.
It pointed out: “In all cases, experts had been employed, which suggests that it is not possible to mitigate the risks associated with such works .” An Taisce also raised concerns with An Bord Pleanála that disturbed peat could pollute watercourses and threaten aquatic species.
Appealing the council decision, the Irish Peatland Conservation Council (IPCC) stated: “If the proper stress tests specific to peat soils are not conducted prior to the above proposed development, its construction could lead to a bog burst, leaving Ireland again liable to prosecution under the Environmental Liability Directive.”
Refusing permission, An Bord Pleanála stated it was not satisfied the development “would not prejudice the stability of the peatland on the site of the proposed windfarm or adversely affect the hydrology of the bog in the adjacent Glendree Bog candidate Special Area of Conservation”.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Permission for €12m windfarm revoked
AN BORD Pleanála yesterday refused planning permission for a €12 million windfarm due to fears it could result in a peat landslide.
The proposed 375ft, eight-turbine windfarm in the Slieve Aughty mountain range in northeast Clare lies 17km south of a windfarm at Derrybrien, Co Galway, which was the scene of a landslide in 2003 that dislodged 450,000 cubic metres of material and which killed 50,000 fish.
Earlier this year, Clare County Council granted planning permission to SWS Energy Ltd at Maghera in the Slieve Aughties for the proposal, in spite of widespread local opposition.
In a submission to An Bord Pleanála, the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board objected to the plan as “it is not possible for the developer to guarantee that a landslide will not occur arising from the construction and operation of the windfarm that would be environmentally catastrophic”.
The fisheries board stated that “three major bogslides have occurred in recent years that have devastated fish stocks and caused significant long-term damage to the aquatic habitat”.
It pointed out: “In all cases, experts had been employed, which suggests that it is not possible to mitigate the risks associated with such works .” An Taisce also raised concerns with An Bord Pleanála that disturbed peat could pollute watercourses and threaten aquatic species.
Appealing the council decision, the Irish Peatland Conservation Council (IPCC) stated: “If the proper stress tests specific to peat soils are not conducted prior to the above proposed development, its construction could lead to a bog burst, leaving Ireland again liable to prosecution under the Environmental Liability Directive.”
Refusing permission, An Bord Pleanála stated it was not satisfied the development “would not prejudice the stability of the peatland on the site of the proposed windfarm or adversely affect the hydrology of the bog in the adjacent Glendree Bog candidate Special Area of Conservation”.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The proposed 375ft, eight-turbine windfarm in the Slieve Aughty mountain range in northeast Clare lies 17km south of a windfarm at Derrybrien, Co Galway, which was the scene of a landslide in 2003 that dislodged 450,000 cubic metres of material and which killed 50,000 fish.
Earlier this year, Clare County Council granted planning permission to SWS Energy Ltd at Maghera in the Slieve Aughties for the proposal, in spite of widespread local opposition.
In a submission to An Bord Pleanála, the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board objected to the plan as “it is not possible for the developer to guarantee that a landslide will not occur arising from the construction and operation of the windfarm that would be environmentally catastrophic”.
The fisheries board stated that “three major bogslides have occurred in recent years that have devastated fish stocks and caused significant long-term damage to the aquatic habitat”.
It pointed out: “In all cases, experts had been employed, which suggests that it is not possible to mitigate the risks associated with such works .” An Taisce also raised concerns with An Bord Pleanála that disturbed peat could pollute watercourses and threaten aquatic species.
Appealing the council decision, the Irish Peatland Conservation Council (IPCC) stated: “If the proper stress tests specific to peat soils are not conducted prior to the above proposed development, its construction could lead to a bog burst, leaving Ireland again liable to prosecution under the Environmental Liability Directive.”
Refusing permission, An Bord Pleanála stated it was not satisfied the development “would not prejudice the stability of the peatland on the site of the proposed windfarm or adversely affect the hydrology of the bog in the adjacent Glendree Bog candidate Special Area of Conservation”.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Saturday, 24 November 2007
Experts to ban wind farms from West Mayo
THERE was a large turnout for last Wednesday night's public meeting to discuss the Draft Wind Energy Strategy which forms part of the draft Mayo County Development Plan.
The meeting, chaired by Councillor Michelle Mulherin, heard from representatives of the Mayo Wind Energy Agency, Surface Power, Kilalla Community Wind Farm, the Irish Wind Energy Association and Eirgrid who all gave there opinion on the current state of wind energy in Ireland and in Mayo in particular.
However there was no representative from the Dublinbased officials that drafted the current plan.
The large audience asked why no one was present to explain their decision to exclude half the county from putting up any new wind farms. Cllr Mulherin and her fellow Cllr Eddie Staunton claimed that the senior planner had agreed to attend the meeting but that he had been blocked from doing so by Mayo County Council.
The meeting was a chance for the public to hear from experts in the field of wind energy and to give their opinion on the current proposed plan for Mayo. On the way into the meeting a copy of the plan was available for viewing but from the outset there were some concerned voices. With regard to planning permission for wind farms, or even single wind turbines, the county is to be split down the middle.
A line running North- South down the centre of the county shows that no permission will be given for wind farms in the West of the county even though this is where the highest winds speeds are found and where it would be most economically viable to set up a wind turbine. This draft plan had been prepared by experts in Dublin who were attempting to preserve the scenic beauty of the West of the county and to protect the peat lands in the area.
There was serious issues raised by people at the meeting last night regarding this blanket ban on the western half of the county. Pat Brett from IWEA maintained that it was possible to retain the beauty of the West and that there were also best practice guidelines with regard erecting wind turbines in peat lands.
One dissenting voice in the audience didn't have much regard for the experts who drew up these plans. "I think that it must have been Swampy the eco-warrior that drew up these plans while he was protesting underground at the Newgrange bypass and has never even seen the West of Ireland," the audience member said.
County Council members have until next Friday (November 23) to make final changes to the Draft County Development Plan.
David Gilbert
Western People
www.buckplanning.ie
The meeting, chaired by Councillor Michelle Mulherin, heard from representatives of the Mayo Wind Energy Agency, Surface Power, Kilalla Community Wind Farm, the Irish Wind Energy Association and Eirgrid who all gave there opinion on the current state of wind energy in Ireland and in Mayo in particular.
However there was no representative from the Dublinbased officials that drafted the current plan.
The large audience asked why no one was present to explain their decision to exclude half the county from putting up any new wind farms. Cllr Mulherin and her fellow Cllr Eddie Staunton claimed that the senior planner had agreed to attend the meeting but that he had been blocked from doing so by Mayo County Council.
The meeting was a chance for the public to hear from experts in the field of wind energy and to give their opinion on the current proposed plan for Mayo. On the way into the meeting a copy of the plan was available for viewing but from the outset there were some concerned voices. With regard to planning permission for wind farms, or even single wind turbines, the county is to be split down the middle.
A line running North- South down the centre of the county shows that no permission will be given for wind farms in the West of the county even though this is where the highest winds speeds are found and where it would be most economically viable to set up a wind turbine. This draft plan had been prepared by experts in Dublin who were attempting to preserve the scenic beauty of the West of the county and to protect the peat lands in the area.
There was serious issues raised by people at the meeting last night regarding this blanket ban on the western half of the county. Pat Brett from IWEA maintained that it was possible to retain the beauty of the West and that there were also best practice guidelines with regard erecting wind turbines in peat lands.
One dissenting voice in the audience didn't have much regard for the experts who drew up these plans. "I think that it must have been Swampy the eco-warrior that drew up these plans while he was protesting underground at the Newgrange bypass and has never even seen the West of Ireland," the audience member said.
County Council members have until next Friday (November 23) to make final changes to the Draft County Development Plan.
David Gilbert
Western People
www.buckplanning.ie
Monday, 5 November 2007
Wind power licence terms 'uncompetitive'
Ireland's licensing terms for wind power are uncompetitive, according to a renewable energy company.
Speaking at the Gateway Status conference in Dundalk, Brian Britton, managing director of Oriel Windfarm said - "there are currently four offshore wind farms approved - or at an advanced stage of the process - in the Irish Sea, with the capacity to generate 2,000 megawatts (MW) or 40 per cent of Ireland's electricity needs. Commitment to developing these wind farms could see them in production within four years.
"With a competitive industrial promotion programme, they would bring with them hundreds of jobs in new industry - providing turbines, foundations, towers and fittings for the wind farms. Taking construction into account, thousands of jobs could be created at a time when jobs are being lost in the building sector."
Mr Britton said that the key factor holding back development of the sector is the lack of specific government policy on offshore wind.
To attract the capital to invest in the industry, the state needs to have an operating environment that is competitive with other EU states. At the moment, there are no incentives in place to attract investment in the area - he added - whereas, in countries - such as the UK, Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands - appropriate regulatory regimes have attracted substantial investment.
Mr Britton called on the the Minister for Communications, Energy & Natural Resources, Eamon Ryan, to address this issue as a matter of urgency, to enable the development of a power industry using indigenous resources.
"This is an opportune time for Ireland to enter this industry. Many of the technologies associated with it are still in development and Ireland could become a technological leader in this fast-growing area. These developments are making the issue of intermittency in wind power a thing of the past."
www.buckplanning.ie
Speaking at the Gateway Status conference in Dundalk, Brian Britton, managing director of Oriel Windfarm said - "there are currently four offshore wind farms approved - or at an advanced stage of the process - in the Irish Sea, with the capacity to generate 2,000 megawatts (MW) or 40 per cent of Ireland's electricity needs. Commitment to developing these wind farms could see them in production within four years.
"With a competitive industrial promotion programme, they would bring with them hundreds of jobs in new industry - providing turbines, foundations, towers and fittings for the wind farms. Taking construction into account, thousands of jobs could be created at a time when jobs are being lost in the building sector."
Mr Britton said that the key factor holding back development of the sector is the lack of specific government policy on offshore wind.
To attract the capital to invest in the industry, the state needs to have an operating environment that is competitive with other EU states. At the moment, there are no incentives in place to attract investment in the area - he added - whereas, in countries - such as the UK, Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands - appropriate regulatory regimes have attracted substantial investment.
Mr Britton called on the the Minister for Communications, Energy & Natural Resources, Eamon Ryan, to address this issue as a matter of urgency, to enable the development of a power industry using indigenous resources.
"This is an opportune time for Ireland to enter this industry. Many of the technologies associated with it are still in development and Ireland could become a technological leader in this fast-growing area. These developments are making the issue of intermittency in wind power a thing of the past."
www.buckplanning.ie
Friday, 26 October 2007
Kerry planners overturn council on windfarm
A DECISION by Kerry County Council to refuse planning permission for two wind turbines near Asdee has been overturned by An Bord Pleanala.
The windfarm is to be situated at Curraderrig, Asdee on a site approximately seven kilometers north east of Ballybunion and west of Ballylongford.
The application is for the construction of two generators, with a hub height of 64 metres and of rotor diameter 70.5 metres, as well as a control building and ancillary works.
In December 2006, Kerry County Council turned down permission for the turbines saying they would be obtrusive on the landscape and would lessen the value of nearby homes.
However the decision was appealed by the applicant, JP McElligott, who argued that the planned turbines were just 2.5km from an existing windfarm at Beale and that they would not be located in an area with prime or special amenity value nor would they be located near any "views or prospects".
Planning inspector Aisling Cunnane recommended that the planning board grant permission for the turbines.
She maintained they would not have a significant adverse impact on the landscape and they would not adversely impact on flora and fauna.
At a meeting on 21 September last the board decided to grant permission in accordance with the inspector's recommendation, subject to certain conditions.
These include the structures being removed after 20 years unless further permission is granted, that noise levels be minimised and that the colour scheme to be used would be agreed with the council
The Kingdom
The windfarm is to be situated at Curraderrig, Asdee on a site approximately seven kilometers north east of Ballybunion and west of Ballylongford.
The application is for the construction of two generators, with a hub height of 64 metres and of rotor diameter 70.5 metres, as well as a control building and ancillary works.
In December 2006, Kerry County Council turned down permission for the turbines saying they would be obtrusive on the landscape and would lessen the value of nearby homes.
However the decision was appealed by the applicant, JP McElligott, who argued that the planned turbines were just 2.5km from an existing windfarm at Beale and that they would not be located in an area with prime or special amenity value nor would they be located near any "views or prospects".
Planning inspector Aisling Cunnane recommended that the planning board grant permission for the turbines.
She maintained they would not have a significant adverse impact on the landscape and they would not adversely impact on flora and fauna.
At a meeting on 21 September last the board decided to grant permission in accordance with the inspector's recommendation, subject to certain conditions.
These include the structures being removed after 20 years unless further permission is granted, that noise levels be minimised and that the colour scheme to be used would be agreed with the council
The Kingdom
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