A 48-turbine wind farm proposed for Co Mayo has been refused planning permission by An Bord Pleanála. ...A decision on the larger Oweninny proposal is not expected until at least November.

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Permission had been sought to construct what would be the country's biggest wind farm in Co Mayo with 112 turbines. Plans by a number of State companies to erect more than 150 wind turbines in north Co Mayo have been dealt a serious blow by An Bord Pleanála.

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An engineer opposed to a proposed wind farm in Co Meath claims the development has a “fundamentally unfair” planning procedure. He said there is no public involvement in the environmental-impact assessment.

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Local resident and spokesman for the Barna Wind Action Group, Michael O’Donovan, from Moneygoff East, said residents have wide-ranging concerns about the the project, on which a decision is expected to be made by the planning authorities early next month.

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Mr Justice Peart, while rejecting the residents’ argument that the environmental assessment for the turbines was flawed, said he was satisfied the grid connection was an integral and fundamental to the overall project. Without it, the turbine development would serve no function, he said.

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The Dublin-based renewable energy-focused utility has shifted its focus to Europe and intends to invest approximately €50m in 150 megawatts worth of construction-ready windfarm projects across Ireland, Scandinavia, and Britain over the next 12 months. While this plan was criticised by shareholders at the group’s AGM in September, so too was the retaining of remaining US assets.

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A High Court judge has imposed a 3mph speed limit on vehicles operating on a mountain windfarm project in a bid to stop sheep being scared. Mr Justice Deeny also ruled that a renewable energy firm should only drill bore holes at Ballymongan Hill in Co Tyrone when flocks had been taken off for winter.

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McCarthy and other critics of wind energy policy, such as the Irish Academy of Engineering, say that other costs will also be incurred with further deployment of wind, through extra transmission infrastructure needed to cope. The academy has called on the Government to “rebalance” policy away from renewables towards gas-fired plants. It says emissions targets can be met through conservation and other policies.

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Ireland should abandon plans to build more wind farms in order to comply with a European Union policy which has failed – especially in light of the fact that the State already has more power generation capacity than it needs, a leading economist has urged.

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Kerry County Council has refused planning permission for a 10-turbine wind farm proposed for the Ballyhorgan area, near Listowel. More than 1,000 people signed a petition opposing plans, while objectors attended several public meetings locally as well as staging protests

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New wind farm developments may be delayed by High Court challenges after a group of west Clare residents became the first local opposition group to secure leave for a judicial review.

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After 2½ hours of rancour at Thursday’s annual general meeting, NTR chairman Tom Roche and his fellow board members can be in no doubt about the dissent within shareholder ranks over its plans to spend €50 million of their money on pursuing additional wind farm projects in Europe.

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Councillors in north Kerry are moving to stop the erection of further windfarms and are seeking to have a ban inserted in the new six-year county development plan, ...Planning permission has been granted for just over 400 turbines in the region — half of which have yet to be constructed.

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Laois wind awareness group People Over Wind have been granted leave to appeal an An Bord Pleanála rulling in the High Court, over the approval of Cullenagh windfarm. The hearing is expected to take place after Christmas, with the €50,000 legal cost raised by Cullenagh residents and supporters.

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According to court documents, the group will attempt to prove the board failed to carry out a proper environmental impact assessment, as well as an appropriate assessment as required under national and European law.

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"Coiste na Mí C.L.G has decided that it is not appropriate for a voluntary sporting organisation like the GAA to engage in a complex debate on renewable energy and consequently will decline the offer from Element Power.

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‘Triumph for democracy’ He claimed that it would still leave some 50,000 hectares, equivalent to 10 per cent on Donegal’s land area, available for further wind energy development – and this was “more than enough”, he said.

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A High Court challenge has been brought against An Bord Pleanála’s decision to grant planning permission for a large wind farm development in the midlands.

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An energy developer has Meath GAA onboard for its project, but local people are not so receptive to the plan, writes Special Correspondent Michael Clifford.

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Expert reports prepared for local residents and the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaaltacht, had considered the developments posed a “significant” risk to international habitats, groundwater systems and local flooding, the court heard.

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