dunmore wind power limited
“Glen Erin”
Caulstown
Dunboyne
Co. Meath
Phone 01-8255100
Fax 01-8226252
Email .
Wind Submissions,
Planning Section,
Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government,
Custom House,
Dublin 1.
21st February 2014
By email to:
Re: Response to Wind Energy Guidelines Focused Review: Draft statutory guidelines.
Dear Planning Section,
Dunmore Wind Power has been in the wind energy business since 2001 and has developed a wind farm 4 km west of Collon, Co. Louth. The wind farm was constructed over two stages: two turbines erected in 2006 and two more turbines erected in 2008. The company is owned by the two landowners and one other investor from Co Meath. All of the economic benefit of the project remains in the two counties.
We are supportive of the submission being made by the Irish Wind Farmers Association of which we are a member. I do not intend repeating the issues presented in their submission but would prefer to speak of my own experience and how the proposed noise and shadow flicker and setback distance suggested would have impacted Dunmore:
· Having studied county Louth in detail, looking at every square kilometre on the OS Maps, no single location outside of Special Areas of Conservation could comply with the new proposed guidelines including the Dunmore Wind Farm.
· Dunmore continues to enjoy the support of the local community. We made 6 planning applications relating to the development with no observations or objections lodged to any of them. The most recent application being made late in 2013
· Our wind farm expects to spend in excess of €150,000 per year on repair and maintenance. The bulk of this money in being paid to an Irish owned Cavan based company giving employment locally.
· The fundamental question needs to be considered DO WE WANT A WIND INDUSTRY or perhaps the other question should be asked can we afford not to have a wind industry add are we prepared for the financial and environmental consequences of not having this industry
· On the global scale question ask the people of Cork or those living along the Shannon which they would prefer to look at: the recent floods or a wind turbine. These issues are not unrelated; climate change appears to be the elephant in the room when it comes to this debate.
· There is a balance to be reached between the benefits of the wind industry and the associated environmental impact. You have a difficult task ahead of you and if it would be of benefit I invite any one or any grouping of you to visit our wind farm. We are only 30 minutes drive from Dublin Airport.
Thank opportunity to participate in this consultation.
Yours sincerely
*sent by email, requires no signature
Pat Blount
Registered in Dublin Reg. Number 366193 Directors P.J. Mc Cabe and Pat Blount