Leitrim locals feel 'pushed around' by plan for new wind farm

A community in Leitrim feels “pushed around” as planning permission is sought in the local area for a wind farm, a campaign group has insisted. 

FuturEnergy Ireland has lodged a planning application for wind farm of 14 turbines, close to Manorhamilton. 

As the application pertains to renewable energy infrastructure, the proposal has been fastracked and is now being considered by An Coimisiún Pleanála. 

On The Claire Byrne Show, Save Dough Mountain Chairman Darren Sweeney claimed the organisation is “not anti wind” in principle. 

“It actually isn't about what they look like, because we see them dotted around our countryside every time we get into the car and the North West,” he said. 

“Whether it be Donegal or Leitrim, you don't have to look very far to see them.

“But the scale isn't insignificant - particularly my area where I'm from, which is North Leitrim, just outside Manorhamilton.

“We feel like we've been pushed around a little bit over the last number of years, with regards to achieving some of these targets.”

Mr Sweeney said the proposed wind farm is a “hot topic” locally and that the area is a “pristine environment” they would hate to see changed. 

“It is a carbon sink in itself because it's peatland,” he said. 

“It is already doing the job of achieving some of our targets towards net zero.

“The effect that it has on the species that are there; example, there are approximately 100 mating hen harrier birds in Ireland.

“We are a home to two or three of those couples.”

Mr Sweeney added that locals are also concerned about the impact the wind farm will have on tourism in Leitrim. 

“Yes, there are some small factories, but tourism is our industry,” he said. 

“We have a number of businesses and most of the businesses rely heavily on tourism.” 

'Paying too much for their electricity'

Also on the programme, Wind Energy Ireland spokesperson Justin Moran said the group’s concerns about nature are “very understandable”. 

However, society does not need to make a choice between nature and renewable energy infrastructure. 

“Wind farms in Ireland are being planned and managed with nature in mind,” he insisted. 

“They support biodiversity by restoring pea plants to maintain hedgerows, to create habitats for pollinators and birds.” 

Mr Moran also said that the transition to renewable energy would benefit people in Leitrim who are concerned about their energy bills. 

“I think the reality is every man and woman listening to this, listening to this conversation is paying too much for their electricity,” he said. 

“We are living in a cost of living crisis and electricity bills are rising; the one thing that we know works that pushes down the wholesale electricity price is the development of wind energy. 

“We've saved nearly €1 billion for Irish electricity consumers since 2020 - we intend to save more.”

The Irish Government has set an ambitious target to generate 80% of the State's energy from renewable sources by 2030, in order to meet EU climate targets.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said without investment in wind and solar, "I do not know where we are going to get our energy".