Tag Archives: wind farm

A WINDFARM development proposed for a site in west Clare will not be fast-tracked, An Bord Pleanála has decided. Whitebeam Renewables had made a case to allow plans for six turbines, an energy storage unit and a substation to go directly to the board, under the provisions of the Strategic Infrastructure Act. The development is earmarked for a site covering the townlands of Doolough, Glenmore and Cahermurphy, 4.5km north of Kilmihil. In a decision made earlier this month, the appeals board decided that while the development would meet the criteria as an energy infrastructure project, it does not qualify for the fast-track application process on the grounds of its scale.  The board received a request in June from Whitebeam Renewables for a determination on whether or not the development could be submitted as a Strategic Infrastructure application. This would cut down on the likelihood of hurdles like objections and appeals. Consultation meetings took place in July and September and Whitebeam …

Renewables developer says legislators need to facilitate the change from fossil fuels CLARE’S renewable energy potential has been described as “a huge, massive, endless, sustainable resource,” with the capacity to provide thousands of jobs and funding for vital public services. Barefield native Padraig Howard, a renewable energy developer believes that Clare’s on- and off-shore resources have the same transformative potential that the oil and gas sectors had a century ago. The difference is their green credentials and limitless supply. He told The Champion that while the development of the sector is “glacially slow”, the urgency of the climate crisis and the job creating potential of renewables is likely to push the sector to the top of the political agenda. Mr Howard, whose company developed the Mount Callan Windfarm, among others, highlighted Intel’s interest in Oranmore as a prime example of the potential of green energy to attract industry. “Oranmore is on a shortlist alongside a site in German and one …

A SECOND wind farm application for the development of eight large wind turbines about 6.5 kilometres from Miltown Malbay, which was previously involved in High Court proceedings, has been refused by Clare County Council. Clare County Council has turned down plans by Slieveacurry Limited for permission for a ten-year planning permission for the construction of a renewable energy development, which would have had a 30-year operational life from the time of full commissioning, if it had secured the necessary planning approval. Notwithstanding the location of the site on lands identified as “strategic” for windfarm developments, the planning authority considered the proposed turbine structures by reason of their height, scale and siting on this open and exposed upland landscape would constitute a prominent feature on the landscape from both local and long range viewpoints. When assessed in conjunction with existing and permitted wind turbines in the area, the local authority considered the proposed development would give rise to an excessive proliferation …

THE Supreme Court has refused, on grounds including it does not make “futile orders”, to declare that planning decisions relating to a windfarm development on a mountain site at Derrybrien did not permit deforestation of more than 115,000 trees. The site was the scene of a massive bog slide in October 2003 when nearly half a million tonnes of peat and debris was displaced, causing considerable damage to the surrounding area and pollution to a nearby fishing river. Following a 2008 decision of the European Court of Justice that Ireland had not fulfilled its obligations under a 1985 EU Directive related to assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment, a local residents group appealed in 2009 against the 2005 refusal of the High Court to grant injunctions stopping the deforestation. The Chief Justice said, while the Supreme Court was prepared to approach the appeal “on the assumption the planning permission did not cover or …

An Bord Pleanala has refused planning permission for the construction of a nine turbine wind-farm within sight Doonbeg Golf Resort, as a result of a tiny rare creature likened to “Ireland’s panda”. This follows an appeal by the golf club owner, US billionaire Donald Trump, in addition to objections and observations from over 40 individuals and groups, from the locality, as well as Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE), An Taisce and the Irish Peat Conservation Council (IPCC) against Clare Coastal Wind Power’s project, granted planning permission by Clare County Council last year. The inspector recommended a refusal to the wind-farm – 20 ft taller than Dublin’s Spire – on a number of grounds – including the impact the wind farm would have on views from the golf resort and the impact the wind farm would have on the fresh water pearl mussel. In its order, the appeals board stated that it is not satisfied that the proposal would not …

By Dan Danaher AMERICAN billionaire Donald Trump will have another five weeks at least to oppose plans for a new windfarm near his new Doonbeg golf resort, after the initial application was declared “invalid”. Clare County Council has ruled that revised plans submitted by Clare Coastal Wind Power, for the proposed development of a wind farm in the townlands of Carrowmore South, Einagh and Shragh, about two kilometres south of Doonbeg village, are no longer valid. The Clare Champion can reveal that, in a recent letter to the company, the planning authority confirmed it would be returning all plans, drawings and maps, plus a refund of the €3,018 planning fee for the proposed development. The planning authority noted that written consent from individual landowners, who are stated to have consented to the making of the planning application, was not included in correspondence to the authority. “Please ensure that when you are submitting your new application, it meets all the requirements …