Wind farming in Ireland should be regarded as a failed energy experiment, in addition to projects such as the controversial Eigrid one in Ratheniska, according to Renua.
The party was commenting on the visit by Climate Change and Environment Minister, Denis Naughten with Justice Minister Charles Flanagan to the controversial Eirgrid site in Ratheniska.
“The story of Ratheniska epitomises the story of the failed wind-power model in Ireland and of the arrogance of state institutions such as Eirgrid,” said Renua leader Cllr John Leahy.
“Local farmers and families have in this case battled with Eirgrid for almost nine years over the controversial development,” he said.
“They contend that the site works at Coolnabaca have resulted in serious breaches in planning law and we agree.
“The robust opposition of rural communities to these vanity projects and heavily subsidised windfarms is not nimbyism as their merits and sustainability on any economic or environmental metrics have been sundered by eminent economists such as Colm Mc Carthy and Cormac Lucey,” Cllr Leahy said.
“The concerns of the rural community in Ratheniska, Timahoe and Spink centre on health, the visual amenity of the landscape and the environment but most particularly that the construction is taking place at the location of a regionally important aquifer, which is the source of domestic water supply for up to 8,000 residents,” Cllr Leahy said.
“The community are properly concerned over the consequences of the construction works, drilling, excavation, pouring of concrete and infringement onto a vulnerable water table and domestic source,” said.
Legacy
“This sub-station is just one of a country-wide legacy of unstable, unsafe and unsuitable projects that are the legacy of Eirgrid and wind-farming,” Cllr Leahy said.
“It is a failed economic and social project which is the renewable energy equivalent of fracking,” Cllr Leahy said.
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