Windfarm development to create 3,000 Midland jobs

An energy supply firm has announced this week it wants to build 40 wind farms across five Midland counties, including Westmeath - to supply electricity directly into the UK National Grid. It says the development could create 3,000 long term jobs and an estimated 10,000 construction jobs, but the company could not specify yesterday (Tuesday) whether any of the wind farms would be located in the South Westmeath area. The firm, Greenwire, has agreed it could build as many as eight windfarms in Westmeath - and possibly more. However, a spokesman for the company - Seán Perry - was unable to confirm to the Westmeath Independent if any of these were likely to be located in the Athlone area, but said the company had been in negotiations with hundreds of landowners in the five counties and these were spread out over a wide geographic area to ensure the company identified the best sites for the wind farms. He said certain criteria had to be met in constructing windfarms, such as the fact they had to be located half a kilometre away from residential buildings, making them unsuitable for urban areas. And, its press statement, issued on Tuesday morning, revealed that none of the power generated will be going into the Irish electrical grid. All 40 windfarms - in Westmeath, Meath, Laois, Kildare and Offaly - are to be networked through underground cabling to a central collection point for supply on via two under-sea cables to supply 3,000 megawatts of power to the UK. Greenwire, set up by Element Power, has already signed up several landowners across the five counties who are prepared to allow wind turbines onto their lands. However, news of the plans is likely to be met with largescale opposition across the Midlands. Similar plans for wind farms met with opposition in South Roscommon, with a decision due shortly from An Bord Pleanála on a proposed wind farm for the Dysart area. Greenwire is not yet stating where exactly the proposed windfarms are to go. "We have engaged with landowners and quite a few landowners have agreed, but a lot of engineering work and examination work has to be done before we can clarify where exactly they will be provided," said Emmett Barrett, of Keating and Associates, charged with speaking for the firm. The announcement, made on Tuesday, revealed that Greenwire will spend €8bn during the construction phase. The firm stated that this will see the creation of an estimated 10,000 development and construction jobs, and up to 3,000 long term jobs. In addition, the firm says, rental payments to landowners, combined with annual rates to the local authorities across the Midlands will amount to €50m each year. It continues: "Due to dwindling North Sea gas reserves as well as ageing coal and nuclear power stations, the UK faces a looming energy deficit. The UK needs 30,000 megawatts of new wind generation to meet its target of 15% of all energy coming from renewable sources by 2020 and is currently consulting on trading renewables with neighbouring countries. Greenwire could save UK consumers nearly €9 billion over the project's lifetime compared to sourcing the same supply from sea-based offshore energy." Greenwire says its application for planning permission will be made in consultation with local authorities and communities in the Midlands. Its parent firm, Element Power, is currently in consultation with An Bord Pleanála with a view to making an application under the terms of the Strategic Infrastructural Development Act 2006.