Tuam now on track to become windmill capital of county

By TONY GALVIN JUST two per cent of Co Galway's land mass has been designated as suitable for wind energy projects because of the proliferation of preserved and protected areas around the county and the likelihood of planning objections.It now appears that the focus for windmill development for the county will be on the greater Tuam area where experts have estimated that there is good potential and less chance of major objections.Angry responseThis was the message conveyed to members of Galway Co Council at their July meeting and it elicited an angry response from councillors who claimed birds and scenery are being given priority over development and jobs.One member said restricting wind farm sites to just two per cent of the county was a bit like giving planning permission for a bridge where there was no river.Members representing the Connemara area are particularly angered by what they see as a blanket ban on windmills in the area which has been identified as the most suitable for wind energy because of the prevailing Atlantic winds sweeping the coastline.However, prospective developers have also run foul of environmental restrictions in areas such as the Slieve Aughty Mountains near Gort. Cllr Bridie Willers said Bird Watch Ireland had objected to Bord Pleanála over the granting of planning permission for 16 wind turbines in the Slieve Aughty area and Bord Pleanála had no option but to uphold their objection as they were in a Special Preservation Area (SPA)Connemara Cllr Joe Lee absented himself from the debate to avoid a conflict of interest as he said he is involved in investigating the potential to develop wind energy on a commercial basis.He told the meeting, before he left, that 90 per cent of Ireland's energy was derived from imported coal, gas or oil which was an unsustainable situation. He argued that with the proper development of alternative energy sources such as wind, Ireland could be a net exporter of energy within 15 years.Commenting on the blanket designation of Connemara as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), he demanded to know if the bureaucrats in Brussels and Dublin wanted 'all human beings to get out of Connemara', which they would have to do if the rules get any stricter.He added before he withdrew from the meeting that because of the restriction it now appeared that North Galway will benefit because Connemara has been ruled out.A target has been set to try and achieve a significant proportion of Co Galway's energy needs from wind production by the year 2020. With the area with the most potential, Connemara, ruled out and growing opposition to more wind farms in South Galway, the focus has turned to the north of the county. Members of Galway Co Council were surprised to be informed at an earlier debate on wind energy that East Galway has, by default, become the prime location for wind farm development with one expert stating that a corridor running up to Tuam and out towards Glenamaddy was ideally suitable for the projects. Wind speeds in these areas are ideal for electricity generation.InvestorsTuam Area Cllr Sean Canney said that it was important to clarify the situation if investors were to be attracted to set up wind energy projects in Co Galway. 'We have to show we are open for business and provide clear guidelines, otherwise this opportunity will be snapped up by counties such as Mayo or Clare where there is also great potential,' he said.Galway Co Council have published a Wind Energy Strategy and the body hopes to attract considerable interest in establishing wind farms.However, the concern now is that the areas where such projects are permissible are so restricted that investors will lose interest and transfer to counties where they will have more opportunity to select the best sites for wind farming.