Concerns about fast-tracking development of near-shore wind turbines have been expressed in several coastal communities, including Connemara and the Celtic Sea.
As The Irish Times Climate and Science Editor Kevin O’Sullivan reports, residents have expressed fears about the lack of marine protection and the visual impact of turbines planned for the Sceirde Rocks off north Galway Bay.
The project involving what may be up to 30 turbines is being developed by Fuinneamh Sceirde Teo, owned by Macquarie’s Green Investment Group.
It is one of the seven first-phase offshore wind projects – six in the Irish Sea and one in Galway Bay – granted marine area consents late last year.
A spokesman for the company says the wind farm will “contribute significantly to the future development of the local area, through job opportunities and economic development”.
Fisherman Kevin Conneely told O’Sullivan that five of the seven first-phase projects granted marine area consents are in areas he fishes.
Conneely took a legal case to ensure he continued to have the right to fish at Sceirdre Rocks, and the agreement cost him 25,000 euros.
He says that if all five projects succeed, he will be “out of business”.
Mick O'Meara of Blue Horizon is part of the Blue Horizon campaign group in the south-east calling for all offshore wind projects to be located at least 22km from the Waterford coast.
Read more in The Irish Times here