Free electricity sought for homes close to South Roscommon windfarm

Households within 3km of turbines from the proposed Seven Hills windfarm development in South Roscommon should be given free electricity "as a bare minimum," a local councillor has proposed.

The suggestion from Cllr John Keogh came during Monday's Roscommon County Council meeting, where the 20-turbine project spanning the areas of Dysart, Taughmaconnell and Brideswell was discussed.

Energia Renewables ROI Ltd is behind the €100 million development, which involves twenty 180-metre wind turbines, and which is due to be decided upon by An Bord Pleanála in December.

At Monday's council meeting, several proposals were made by councillors for steps to alleviate the impact on communities if the project is given the green light. The proposals will be included in a report from the council that will be sent to An Bord Pleanála as part of the planning process.

At the outset of the discussion, the meeting heard that council CEO Eugene Cummins supported the project "in principle" as it would provide renewable energy and would help the county and the country reach energy targets under various national, regional and local policies.

Cllr Keogh and others criticised successive Government for failing to enact new national wind energy guidelines, with the current guidelines having been in place since 2006.

He said it would be "only be fair and reasonable" that, should the windfarm go ahead, all households within 3km of a turbine would be given free electricity, "so that the community as a whole would benefit from the development, rather than just the landholders who would be benefiting from the erection of a turbine on their property."

Cllr Keogh also sought assurances that the groundwater supply to much of South Roscommon, at Kileglan Springs, would not be impacted by the development.

Whether noise from the turbines could affect people with autism or those who are noise-sensitive was an issue raised by Cllr Emer Kelly.

"People find it so difficult to get planning in these areas when they go to build houses on their land, and it's unacceptable that wind turbines can be afforded planning, seemingly easier, when such a large portion of the community are against them," Cllr Kelly commented.

Cllr Laurence Fallon said there was now clear evidence that "the world is burning up" and that everyone would have to play their part in reducing emissions "whether we like it or not".

He proposed that an independent agency be put in place to deal with any issues that might arise locally following the erection of wind turbines.

Cllr Tony Ward said had previously sought turbine setback distances of 1,500 metres from the nearest home, and he still felt that such a setback distance was required.

"I have no issue with wind energy, but if you're going for wind it should be out at sea. It shouldn't be in local areas and local communities," he said.

Concerns about potential impacts on turloughs and on the wildlife and ecology were cited by Cllr Orla Leyden, who said she continued to be opposed to this development.

The decision on the windfarm was outside the council's control, Cllr John Naughten pointed out, but he said if the project was approved he would propose a maximum turbine height of 120 metres.

He also said the fund which the developer would establish for local community projects should be increased from €300,000 to €500,000.

Cllr Donal Kilduff said he had driven to the meeting in an electric vehicle which was powered by his own solar panels in his yard.

He said he knew people who lived close to wind turbines and had no issue with them, but that if noise or 'shadow flicker' was causing a problem for local residents they should be entitled to adequate compensation in order to relocate.

Cllr Kilduff acknowledged local concerns about the project, but said: "Personally I'd rather see all of the hills of Ireland covered in wind turbines than see our landscape on fire, as it is throughout a lot of Europe and America at the moment."