Proposed €100m windfarm could damage local economy, claims new group

THE construction of a proposed €100 million windfarm in West Clare will result in population decline, a depreciation of property values, a net reduction in employment and a drop in tourism revenue, a new opposition group has claimed.

The group delivered its verdict as Clare Coastal Wind Power Limited confirmed it will lodge a planning application directly with An Bord Pleanála at the end of the month because the 45-turbine windfarm is deemed to be of “strategic importance”.
The windfarm will span the parishes of Doonbeg, Kilrush and Cooraclare and plans include the construction of a 360º viewing platform at the northern most turbine as part of the wind farm development, which would be the first of its kind in Ireland and one of only six worldwide.
Project promoters believe this would become a major tourist attraction in West Clare.
They also have plans to develop an interpretative centre in Doonbeg on the generation of different forms of energy.
If planning permission and grid connection is secured, it is estimated the project would generate about 250 construction jobs over a two-year period, at least 10 permanent jobs and another four to six further jobs associated with the proposed viewing platform and interpretative centre.
The company has finalised rental agreements with landowners. Earlier this year, the company stated 70 local landowners would be paid  €15m in total over a 25-year period, which equated to an annual payment of €8,571.
However, the newly formed Rural Protection Group, has claimed there is absolutely no evidence that people view wind turbines as a tourist attraction. They add that in spite of the hype and promise of benefits to the community by the developers, the reality is that the majority of independent evidence indicates that areas with large-scale wind turbine developments suffer a sharp and permanent drop in tourism and plummeting property values.
While the developers and some land owners will certainly benefit, the group state there appears to be no acknowledgment by the developers that existing long established or newly established tourism-based or tourism dependent businesses will be damaged.
“Evidence in the UK, Wales, Scotland and across mainland Europe is that where there are large-scale wind turbine developments, there is population decline. In an area like Doonbeg, this is likely to result in shops, pubs, restaurants and schools closing. Job creation is the usual false promise used by developers to encourage locals to sign up to their proposal. 
“In reality, most wind turbine developments provide a very small number of jobs in the long term. This needs to be compared with the large number of jobs lost in other work because of a large-scale industrial development placed in the middle of a beautiful rural area.
“This area was declared unsuitable for wind farms in 1998. What has changed in those few years to make it acceptable now? This proposed development should be a real worry to all communities.
“It is frightening to think that people can build homes, develop businesses and choose to live in an area because it seems to be the right thing to do for them and their children and then their whole lives can be turned into turmoil when they realise that, instead of living in a residential area, they are in the middle of a commercial development. Who would choose to live in the middle of a wind turbine industrial development?” the group asks.
While the development is called the Shragh Windfarm, the group points out it includes the townlands of Doonbeg, Monmore North, Carrowmore South, Einagh and Drumillihy as well as Shragh and Mountrivers.
“There will be far more losers than winners if this goes ahead. The losers will be the community. This community will be destroyed – because neighbour will disagree with neighbour – our landscape will change forever, for the worse, we will suffer from shadow flicker and noise, televisions and mobile phones will be affected, we will suffer a further drop in property values, holiday home owners’ investments and enjoyment of the area will be wiped out and any tourism-reliant businesses in the area will be under severe pressure.
“Those proposing and supporting this development are doing so for personal gain and not for the good of the community as a whole,” the group states.
Donal O’Sullivan of Clare Coastal Wind Power said the company respected the right of any resident or group to make observations and submissions and they wanted to let the planning process take its course and would also respect the final decision made by the appeals’ board.