Bord na Mona Powergen Ltd. have made the application
A planning application has been lodged for a wind farm to be located across Kildare and Offaly.
The proposed Ballydermot Wind Farm would straddle areas in both counties, located between Allenwood, Derrinturn and Rathangan in Kildare, to Clonbullogue, and Edenderry in Offaly.
Bord na Mona Powergen Ltd. have made the application for the 46 turbine farm, which are expected to be 200m to 220m in height.
According to the project's website, the layout has been designed with a minimum setback distance of 880m to the nearest house from a turbine.
Apart from the turbines themselves, the other principal components of the wind farm are the foundations to support the turbine towers, access, crane hard standings, underground cables between the turbines, an on-site electricity substation and an electrical connection to the appropriate node on the National Grid.
The plans also include the upgrade of 2.8km of existing internal site roads/tracks and the provision of 60 km of new internal site access roads.
As well as this, there will be 14.4km of new tracks and 844m of boardwalk for the purposes of amenity, seating areas, and amenity signage, four car parks comprising 132 spaces for private vehicles, 12 spaces for accessible parking, parking for buses and bicycle rack facilities.
The applicant is seeking a ten-year permission and an operational period of thirty-five-years for the wind turbines and meteorological mast from the date of full commissioning of the wind turbines.
It's Draft Amenity Plan will seek to utilise these new access roads as a basis for most of the proposed trails for walking, cycling and horse riding.
The project also aims to create 200 to 250 jobs at peak construction, while supporting a number of long term, high quality technical jobs in operations and maintenance.
Speaking to Kfm News, Indepedent Representative for Clane LEA John Bryan said he "strongly opposes" the proposed wind farm.
"I am strongly opposed to this development. We cannot continue to destroy our natural landscapes and boglands in the name of green energy without asking some very serious questions.
"Allowing this planning application to pass would essentially mean a blank cheque for developers to industrialise our countryside," he added.
Bryan concluded by stating that he doesn't oppose wind energy, but that questions should be asked about this planned development:
"I am not opposing wind energy, I am asking whether this is the right development, in the right location, for the right cost – and I believe these are the same questions many residents in North West Kildare are also asking.
"I believe this proposal deserves the strongest possible scrutiny, and I will be encouraging everyone concerned about its impact to make their voices heard through the planning process."
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