Planning permission for a wind farm in a scenic area near Inistioge has been sought from Kilkenny County Council.
A number of local residents have objected to the proposal, claiming the 220-foot wind turbines at Bohilla would be an eyesore visible for miles.
However, the developer, Mr Tom Tennyson, who lives in the area, says the four turbines would be built on a remote, low hill out of residents' sight.
Objectors include the Inistioge Conservation Society which claims the visual impact of the development would be "horrendous".
Another objector, Mr Jim McKenna, claimed property prices in the area would fall by 50 per cent if the development was allowed to go ahead. Mr McKenna, who lives in England, plans to retire to Inistioge in 18 months and recently got planning permission to build a house beside the proposed wind farm.
"The development site is only 150 metres from the South Leinster Way and if you stand on it you can see for up to 30 miles, so the visual impact would be horrific," he said. "There's also the noise element. Wind farms are not over-loud, but the noise goes on for 24 hours a day."
The claims are disputed by the developer, who has held discussions with the ESB about connecting the farm to the national grid. The 660 kW turbines would generate enough electricity between them to supply about 1,200 homes.
In a letter to the council, Mr Michael Tennyson, a rural development consultant and brother of the applicant, said there were no dwellings within 350 metres of the site and the nearest permanently occupied house was 430 metres away. The houses were out of the sight of the proposed development.
He said the visual impact would be "very small" and the turbines would not be visible from any town or village, "and would not be visible from any road in such a manner as to distract drivers of vehicles". No sites of archaeological interest would be affected, he added. A wind monitoring mast was placed on the site at the end of last year.
