Discussions over €30m Broadford windfarm

FARMERS in Broadford are in discussions with a windfarm developer about the proposed construction of a €30 million development in the locality.
Landowners are seeking to secure an agreement with Padraig Howard, one of the promoters behind the proposed construction of a €200m windfarm in Mount Callan between Ennis and Miltown Malbay.
An Bord Pleanála is making a decision on an appeal against the granting of planning permission by Clare County Council for the provision of 28 3MW wind turbines. It has been estimated that 30 landowners could benefit from a total payout of €500,000 over the 20 years of the project, if the appeals’ board gives the development the green light.
Landowner Donal Moloney confirmed he had purchased 211 acres with another landowner, which had been split down the middle and could be one of the sites for up to 30 wind turbines.
Mr Moloney said the plan is to provide a new windfarm at Hurdlestown, Broadford about a mile from the village, which would need the consent of about four or five farmers.
A 440kv line originating from Moneypoint Power Station is currently crossing Mr Moloney’s land and if planning permission is secured, this line could be used as a possible link with the national grid.
Mr Moloney explained that a small number of wind turbines would not be viable if the developer wanted to make a bid for grid connection and noted about seven or eight farmers had expressed an interest in getting involved in the project.
No agreement or final decision has been made yet concerning these plans, which would have to be presented at a meeting of all the affected landowners.
Asked about the possible impact on the local community, Mr Moloney pointed out the nearest house is about one mile away from the designated area. Although no structure has been formalised to date, Mr Moloney said a co-operative system similar to the one introduced for the Mount Callan project might work in Broadford, subject to the agreement of landowners.
“No decision or agreement has been drawn up with the developer. The next step is to call a meeting with the affected landowners to discuss the possibilities. We could form a co-operative like the one West Clare Renewable Energy agreed with farmers in Mount Callan,” he said.
As a successful Limousin breeder, Donal Moloney had won numerous prizes in showing classes including overall champion at the 2004 Ploughing Championships as well as first and second prizes in the Beef Expo competition in Kilkenny last October.
A submission to the Draft Clare County Development Plan concerning the draft Clare Wind Energy Strategy (WES) was made by John O’Loughlin on behalf of Mary O’Loughlin and Donal Moloney. Efforts by The Clare Champion to contact John O’Loughlin proved unsuccessful.
They stated that the target set out in the WES should be increased from 550 MW to Moneypoint’s figure of about 1,000 MW to replace fossil fuel dependency and climate change resulting from this current dependency.
The submission objected to the proposed changes to wind designations in respect of National Heritage Areas (NHA) and that the original designations were subject to full and detailed Strategic Environment Assessments before the adoption of the WES.
County manager, Tom Coughlan pointed out the figure of 550 MW would be actively pursued over the lifetime of the plan and could be exceeded.
He explained the omission of Strategic Areas and Acceptable in Principle areas located within NHA is based on a submission received from the Department of the Environment.
At a recent Clare County Council meeting, councillors voted against the omission of Strategic Areas in five areas around the county, including zones in Broadford.
Councillor Michael Begley pointed out implementing the Department of Environment submission would result in a large increase in “no-go exclusion zones” in South-East Clare, which would make any plans for a windfarm in Broadford unviable.
Following the council vote, Councillor Begley explained that the zoning effectively reverted back to what was previously in place in the old County Development Plan before the department made its submission on the draft Wind Energy Strategy, which was supposed to be incorporated in full in the new plan.
He added that one of the biggest issues restricting the development of windfarms in East Clare is the difficulty securing access to the national grid once all planning requirements are met.