A campaign group representing more than 20 rural communities opposed to the siting of wind turbines in their areas has this week written to Minister for Natural Resources Noel Dempsey and Minister for the Environment Dick Roche seeking a meeting to discuss their concerns. Peter Crossan, spokesman for the Irish Wind Energy Truth Alliance (IWETA) also confirmed that it was considering running general election candidates in counties such as Tipperary and Cork, to take votes from members of the Coalition Government.

IWETA claims large portions of Ireland’s countryside are being destroyed by “massive industrial wind turbines”, which damage people’s lives, harm the environment and will do “virtually nothing” to tackle the energy crisis or global warming.

It claims Irish people are not being told the truth about wind energy, and the harm it does to the landscape.

It has also strongly criticised the Government’s recent energy Green Paper, claiming it will result in the “industrialisation” of some of the country’s most beautiful countryside and coastlines.

Mr Crossan said yesterday the organisation wanted to meet the Ministers to put across its members’ concerns.

It had written to them this week, but has yet to receive a reply.

Spokesmen for Mr Dempsey and Mr Roche said they had not received the IWETA’s request for a meeting by yesterday.

As a result, they could not say whether either Minister would be meeting the group.
Mr Crossan said the group also intended to make the siting of wind farms an “election issue” and was considering running “spoiler” candidates in at least three constituencies in the forthcoming general election.

He said IWETA represented campaign groups in areas such as Cavan-Leitrim,Wexford, North and South Tipperary, Cork, Galway, Monaghan and Waterford.

There was “no evidence” that wind energy has had an impact on fossil fuel use or greenhouse gas emissions, he said.

“If we continue to litter our hills and coasts with these structures, tourists will turn their backs on us,” he said.