This article is from page 11 of the 2007-05-15 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 11 JPG
CONCERN for the welfare of the protected bird, the Hen Harrier, has prompted the Department of the Environment to put plans for a €10 million wind-farm in west Clare on hold.
Last month, a Cork-based com- pany, DP Energy Ltd overcame concerns by Clare County Council to secure planning permission for the eight wind-farm project in the Oe eae
However, questions were raised over the six-turbine development after the department appealed the decision to An Bord Pleanala.
In its appeal, the department stated that the company did not include a monitoring programme and mitiga- tion measures for the Hen Harrier.
“We consider that it is inappropri- ate to develop mitigation measures after a decision is made to grant per- mission. There is known Hen Har- rier activity in lands adjacent to the wind-farm extension. The depart- ment does not object in principle to the concept of further wind-farm development in this area and recog- nises the importance of wind-farm technologies in meeting our envi- ronmental energy commitments.”
The appeal also objected to the council’s decision to restrict opera-
tional life to six years. “The capital cost of wind-turbines is very high and an operational period of 20 years is normally required to ob- tain the necessary project finance to Lepr MUlelmre A bICCE: Dene
“Unfortunately, it is not feasible to fund the construction of a wind- farm where such a short life-time has been stipulated. A re-application for planning during the operational lifetime of the wind-farm is also not feasible for the same reason.”
The planning decision has also been appealed by a local man, Noel McGuane of Furoor, Kilmaley.
Mr McGuane points out that in a previous decision, the board ordered the reduction in number of wind- abba bate
‘The reason the board gave for the reduction was to reduce the visual impact on the area around Lough na Mine to reduce the risk of siltation and in the interest of the visual, rec- reational and residential amenities of the area. This is my concern as three of the proposed turbines are very close again to Loch na Mine, a fishing lake and also the only water supply to three parishes,” he said.
Currently, there are just two wind- farms in Clare and one of those is an existing 13-turbine windfarm oper- ated by DP Energy between Kilmi- hil and Connolly.