Stiff breeze against plans for new wind farm close to Limerick village
THE PROPOSED installation of a wind farm in Coolcappa has caused a stir within the local community.
The Ballynisky Green Energy Project plans to install up to six turbines within close proximity of the village and its surrounds.
According to the Coolcappa Community Action Group (CCAG) the turbines, which could be up to 158 metres tall, will be located within 800 metres of 15 houses and the local national school and within one kilometre of 50 houses, St Kyran’s Church and graveyard, St Kieran’s GAA Pitch, Coolcappa Community Hall and Newcastle West Golf Club.
The Ballynisky Green Energy Project, which is behind the proposal, is currently embarking on a consultation process with the local community as it moves forward with the project.
The proposed wind farm is currently in the pre-planning stage and the Energy Project is offering one to one consultations with representatives of the local community.
According to Brenda Dowling of the CCAG, the group’s main concern is that “not enough people were made aware of the plans”.
She said: “The most important thing we needed to do was raise awareness. A huge concern for us is the proximity of the wind farm in relation to the community. There will be an awful lot of noise pollution.”
Shadow flicker is another major concern for the Coolcappa Community Action Group, as it can cause annoyance and reduce quality of life for those who experience it.
Shadow flicker is when the sun is low enough in the sky - in the evenings or mornings - that the wind turbines pass over it causing a brief shadow over landscapes and buildings every few seconds.
“There is a fabulous school here in Coolcappa that has been around since 1881. It’s a three-teacher school,” Ms Dowling mentioned.
“The three nearest turbines will be 750, 800 and 850 metres from the school. The noise will be terrible. The proximity to the school is just too close,” she told the LimerickLeader.
The CCAG has held meetings in the local community in regard to the development of the wind farm and is also due to meet with more local representatives on the issue.
“I just don’t understand why they are planning the wind farm here for the sake of a few megawatts of energy. On the Shannon Estuary, they are planning the off-shore wind farm and they’re talking gigawatts of power to be generated out there. So it doesn’t make sense to us,” said Ms Dowling
The CCAG says it has no plans for further meetings at this time but intends to host more in the future.
The Ballynisky Green Energy Project can be contacted by email - [email protected].