Decision due on planning route for local wind farm
A long-awaited decision on whether or not a €100 million wind farm in South Roscommon can progress as a Strategic Infrastructure Development (SID) – meaning it would bypass the local planning process and go directly to An Bord Pleanála - is expected to be known before the end of the month.
It comes as Energia Renewables Ireland Limited, the company driving the Seven Hills Wind Farm on a triangle of land between Dysart, Brideswell and Taughmaconnell, is seeking approval from Roscommon County Council for two temporary meteorological masts to collect wind data.
An Energia spokesperson told the Westmeath Independent recently that the first application relates to extending the temporary 80 metre mast already in situ in the Skyvalley townland of Taughmaconnell, towards the southern end of the scheme to a height of 100 metres. Masts of this kind up to 80 metres high are exempt from planning permission, a company spokesperson said.
The second meteorological mast is earmarked for the Cronin townland, east of the R357 Athleague road, north of the R363 Ballyforan/Brideswell road, about two kilometres from Dysart village. Both applications are seeking planning permission for a five-year period.
Late last year, plans for a 21-turbine development in South Roscommon emerged.
Over a decade ago, it was Cavan-based Galetech driving the proposal, now it is Energia which has restarted the wind energy project that attracted huge local opposition when it first came to light back in 2010.
When asked last year why the project has been resurrected, given the local community fought the previous plans all the way to High Court over six years ago and won, the company spokesperson stressed at this stage that the latest proposals are a “new project” with “fewer turbines and a new site layout.”
The exact locations of the turbines were not revealed in the draft layout last year, but the map supplied gave a rough indication with seven located closer to Dysart, and the other 14 in a triangle between Dysart, Brideswell and Taughmaconnell. The townlands earmarked for turbines this time around are Cronin, Gortaphuill and Mullaghardagh.
Seven Hills Wind Farm Project would have a typical output of 5-6 megawatts per turbine of renewable energy - enough to provide approximately 85,000 Irish households with green energy every year, the developers say.
It is estimated that up to 100 jobs could be created during construction.
While Covid-19 restrictions has undoubtedly affected those opposing the massive plans from mobilising or holding public events, the Wind Turbine Action Group South Roscommon has already said it will fight the new proposals even more vigorously than last time.
Major local concerns relate to the project's effect on the groundwater, in particular Killeglan Springs which supplies much of South Roscommon's water, the potential for flooding in the area, and its effect on the landscape, wildlife and birds.
A spokesperson for An Bord Pleanála confirmed this week that a verdict on whether this renewable project goes through the Strategic Infrastructure Development (SID) process directly to the board rather than go through the local planning process will be known by June 25, or possibly before that date.
Strategic Infrastructure Development applications are generally judged as development that is of strategic economic or social importance to the country or region or local areas.
Roscommon County Council is due to give a decision on both meteorological mast applications by July 19.