An Bord Pleanála to consider wind farm plan

WEST Clare-based company, Clare Coastal Wind Power Limited will shortly be lodging planning permission for the development of a 45-turbine windfarm at Shragh and Mountrivers in Doonbeg. Following lengthy consultations with An Bord Pleanála, the company has been advised that the proposed development is of strategic importance and that the planning application must be lodged directly to An Bord Pleanála.
The planning application will include permission for a 360˚ viewing platform at the top of one of the turbines. This would be the first viewing tower of its type in Ireland and one of only six worldwide at present. It is hoped that this would become a major tourist attraction in West Clare. The company also has plans to develop an interpretative centre in Doonbeg on the generation of wind energy and the history of energy generation in County Clare from peat to hydro to fossil to wind. This facility would be open to tourists and educational groups.    
It is envisaged that the development, if given planning permission and a connection to the national grid, would result in the creation of at least 250 jobs during the estimated two years of construction. It is also envisaged that there would be at least 10 permanent jobs post construction in the operation and maintenance of the windfarm together with at least four to six further jobs associated with the proposed viewing platform and interpretative centre.
The company has finalised arrangements with 80 local landowners who have agreed to rent their land for the erection of the turbines. There would be a yearly rental payment to these landowners over the estimated 25 year term of the project.
“The company is confident that these rental payments together with the wages paid will result in a very significant injection of cash to the West Clare area over the coming years,” Clare Coastal Wind Power Limited said in a statement.
The proposed windfarm will generate enough renewable energy to supply in excess of 70,000 households. By displacing fossil fuel generation, the wind farm would avoid annual discharges of 202,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This is the equivalent energy production from over 77,000 tonnes of oil each year.
“The project has received widespread support in the local community with the focus on the economic benefits of the windfarm and the potential tourism spin-off from the viewing platform and interpretative centre as well as the environmental benefits,” the companies statement added.