Picture by ddhac
How do you feel about wind turbines? Myself I like them (although with some reservations). They’re impressively BIG, for one thing; and the way their blades revolve slowly and elegantly is impressive. And they’re built like an iPhone – that is, they’re functional and at the same time they’ve smooth, beautiful lines to them. Behind all that, they’re saving the planet from the ecological disaster we call fossil fuels. What’s not to like?
Well, down in Co Meath they dislike a number of things about the proposed 46 turbines, each 169 metres high, that they’re planning to install there. The local people believe that consultation with them was “hopelessly inadequate” and that they don’t meet the standards of European legislation on these matters.
A bit closer to home, in my native Tyrone, in Broughderg, the local people are feeling railroaded by the big wind energy companies. For one thing, the Wind Energy people had their plans and and plausible answers ready for years, plus the backing of big finance, while the local people had only the argument “This is our place, not yours”. There is a small number of large farm-owners, many of them absentee, who appear willing to work with the energy companies and ignore the wishes of the people living there.
Maybe you’re appreciative of the beauty of the Sperrins? If you were planning a visit better act quickly because the planned wind farms are going wreak havoc on the scenery, on historical areas, on areas where people for years have enjoyed walking cycling, mountain-biking, orienteering and all the other benign uses that are made of the natural beauty located there.
There is what the local people believe is a deliberate campaign to de-populate the place, while a huge 6,000 acres is now proposed as the site for the biggest wind-farm in the North.
It comes down to a simple set of claim and counter-claim. The wind farm people would claim that they are developing renewable energy, addressing the great issue of our time: are we going to pollute the earth or are we going to put in place sources of renewable energy? The counter-claim is that these are rich companies, powerful companies, coming in and deciding how they are going to transform a landscape and a way of life that has been there for hundreds of years.
In the end, the question is: who owns Ireland? I would say the Irish people , not big companies, regardless of the apparently benign industry they say they promote. Most of these things, if you look behind the curtain, show that there’s a seam of self-interest, of sometimes massive financial gain, masquerading under the cloak of public good. The people best positioned to decide what is for the good of Broughderg are the people of Broughderg. If their voice isn’t listened to, what’s the point in pretending we believe in democracy?
It comes down to one other thing, Jude.
How badly do we want/ need all the energy we currently use?
If we continue to demand the current levels & all at the flick of a switch, then we will have to sacrifice some of our landscape & seascape.
We can’t have our cake & eat it.
in addition we are running out of fossil fuels. So we must find alternatives.
Anyway according to many scientists the use of fossil fuels is destroying the planet for our descendants.
So have we any choice?
The positioning of wind turbines is all to do with access to good wind, relationship to flight paths, proximity to residential property etc.
So it raises issues ‘re the common good versus local interests which are not easily resolved.
Unless the good people of Broughderg can come up with an alternative they may have to thole it.
As to who owns Ireland. Why it’s the banks of course & wind turbines give them a better return on investment than sheep.
Cushy Glen
This is not about common good versus local interests this is about one big scam. Yes the people of Broughderg are not against renewable energy and there is other alternatives out there but these alternatives will not fill the pockets of foreign investors or fake companies. This rural community has uncovered more information, and learned more about the scam of these large companies how they go into areas and set out to divide and conquer causing ill feelings between neighbours and even worse families. Mr Gavin Forkan of RBF Wind Energy was one of persons sent to try and tear our area apart, coming to an AGM in the local community centre to give a talk on the benefits of Wind Energy and to assure the people that there were no dangers/problems involved. Everyone listened and a few issues were raised such as health implications, broadband interference etc. all of which he answered no problems When you sign up to the lease or option agreement you are gagged not allowed to discuss with anyone. The Community of Broughderg did not obey this everything was put on a table and discussed in great detail by all. Gradually piece by piece we found out just how corrupt this man was. We have a file of information on the underhand dirty tactics and we are only too happy for this to get out in the public domain but of course the media do not want to know, our local papers do not want to print our information. And the attitude of the Wind Energy companies such as SSE and Island Renewables is what does it matter about the people of this area ignore them, trample over them, their opinion does not count, nobody is going to listen to a community out in Broughderg, what would they know. Well we do know, we have educated ourselves, and we will educate others we cannot enclose all information in this comment as there is so much. Broughderg will NOT be tholing it. Wind Turbines/Windfarms do not provide the energy they are supposed to they are not economical, and certainly not green.
Broughderg (Dearg le fearg?) – Would it help if you were to lay out, say, five factual pieces of information given to the community and then how each is not going to benefit the community? I am sympathetic to your situation but I think to press the issue, you need to be selective in precise terms. Even if there are ten things wrong with the implementation of alternative energy, focusing on five makes more sense. What do you think?
I’m not running off on one here but we need to start building energy efficient homes.If a house is built properly using available modern technology you can have a very comfortable home using almost zero energy for both heating and hot water….ground source and air source heat pumps, solar panels and proper cavity and loft insulation ……new technology is being developed all the time…..solar glass –windows that are solar panels are almost at production stage , small ,silent, bladeless wind turbines for rooftops ….it’s there and it needs to be utilized now. I honestly believe a progressive government should be making grants and incentives available now and our dependence on fossil fuels could be drastically cut ,almost overnight.
I agree, Séamus – but the problem is the good technology COSTS….
Seamus O’Neill Yes you have got the answers just forget about the turbines on rooftops even houses already built could become more energy efficient. Not alone houses all buildings private and commercial. But problem is that would be for the good of the community they would benefit NOT the investors and the large companies from wherever. Remove the ROCs and the subsidies which we the people are paying for and see then what will happen.
It’s a moot if not a mute point, Esteemed Blogmeister, as to why exactly Sperrrin Road in Drimnagh, Dublin 12 is called after the Sperrin Mountains in County Tyrone, Ulster 6.
One neatly-trimmed hedge school of thought points to the gold standard to which both places strictly adhere. In the case of the urban parish it is the adjacent Goldenbridge while below the ridges of the rural region seams of gold are reputed to be dar. Not to mention within the dream-like streams.
It goes without saying that panhandlers are not exactly thin on the ground of both districts.
While another hedge school of thought which tends more towards the topiary holds to the view that the reason for the naming is as follows: whereas the Sperrin Mountain range is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (singular) equally so, Sperrin Road is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauties (plural).
Perkie’s inner Artist of Clipping Bushes would belong to the topiary school of thought (check out his trademark rabbit !) and can vouch for the second theory.
Say no more, Seymour.
Taking Tyronership
Who owns in Ireland, the zone known as Tyrone?
Of this air-conditioned contention is today’s bone;
Broughderg means A Red Bank
D’owner’s is an in-the-black bank
Whose tapered bottom is shaped to fit in a throne.
Awe now Jude, there’s not that too many living about Broughderg, i remember being at the opening of a monument there with comrades, and lack of houses was noticeable, i thought Scotstown was bad !
So what you are saying is that there is not a large population so it does not matter about us, our homes and our families. Where have we heard that before? Yes from the mouths of SSE and Island Renewables. By the way for your information the lack of houses noticeable wonder why? Yes we cannot get homes passed but what difference put wind turbines there instead. Oriel27 would you like to meet with our community to discuss this further?
Wind Turbines are not exactly green. The magnets that they contain are made from rare earth which has to be mined, with all the pollution that causes, and also the carbon fibres that they are constructed from cannot be recycled.
It is worth pointing out that they cannot be used when the wind is too high so they are not the most efficient means of energy production.
Added to the fact that they are an undoubted eyesore they are better means as others here have mention of producing green energy and each of us could do our own bit by trying to use energy more wisely and efficiently.
Belfastdan thank you for your comment. We appreciate people like yourselves pointing out fact.
I always considered Geothermal energy the best solution for the Worlds energy needs, though its very risky given the need to drill deep into the Earths crust, that could obviously lead to Earthquakes if not done properly but the heat coming from the Earths outer core is more than enough to meet our energy needs. Another idea put forward by scientists was placing thousands, if not millions, of giant solar panels around the Sun (not too close, obviously) but how the energy attained could be transferred to Earth or stored I don’t know, not to mention the massive cost of building and transporting all those solar panels millions of miles in the Suns direction, I think the orbit of Venus or Mercury was the suggested place put forward according to the article I was reading.
But the most likely solution to the future Worlds energy needs will maybe be Nuclear Fusion. Nuclear Fission is the current method that’s used in Nuclear power plants but as the accidents in Ukraine and Japan has shown its very dangerous and the process also leaves behind extremely dangerous nuclear waste.
Nuclear Fusion on the other hand leaves no waste. The Sun itself is powered by Nuclear Fusion, its basically an almost unlimted supply of energy but scientists haven’t figured out how to create it yet, its all about using massive heat and pressure to make atoms fuse, that’s what occurs in the Suns core, then when the atoms fuse they release gigantic amounts of energy.
As for who owns Ireland? as always the Irish people do. But I think “Who RULES/RUNS Ireland?” is a much better question because it certainly isn’t the Irish people, that’s for sure, the austerity and the hardship over the past 5 years forced upon the Irish people is proof of that.
Ryan At least you not saying that the people of this rural community has to sit back and let these monstrosities be inflicted upon them.
Maybe we should consult the Dutch who designed windmills that enhanced rather than despoiled the countryside.
I think wind turbines can be beautiful in a weird way, but not when they stand on top of a place of natural beauty…
Sadly many of the most beautiful places have the best wind. As for democracy, the worst wind is to be found in the assembly. The most dangerous thing too is that fewer and fewer people believe in democracy.
Jude there is nothing beautiful about something when it causes health issues. As we have said we are not against renewables but it is unbelievable what the people of this community have to do to protect their health, homes, family, landscape etc. Basic human rights…???? There is people if you could call them that has to be held accountable for trying to wipe this community out, causing the stress and annoyance to our lives, stopping us from living in peace. We have the information, we have the truth, we have answers and we have questions but the media and all but a few journalists do not want to know. We are doing the work that others should be doing to protect us. We are not the only area affected there is so many other communities with same argument and same values and they are being ignored also.