Plans for a €45 million wind farm on Achill Island, Co Mayo, have been put on public display locally as part of a pre-planning consultative process.Airgen, the company behind the project, is proposing to locate 15 wind turbines at Knockmore Hill.
As part of the proposal, an Airgen Trust will be set up comprising local people to administer a local fund chosen by the community for the community.
Revenue generated by the Knockmore wind farm will go towards the trust and it is envisaged that local amenities and projects will be funded by it for the benefit of the community.
The development will consist of 15 wind turbines, site tracks, a grid control building, anemometry mast, temporary site works, ancillary works and grid connection line. The turbines will have a hub height of 65 meters and the blades will be 45 metres long.
Knockmore has been chosen because it has a very good wind resource. Shallow peat depths make the site amenable for building the site tracks and turbine bases. The site is already accessed by an existing site track.
An Environmental Impact Statement has been prepared which indicates there are no significant environmental impacts associated with the development.
Achill Island has been identified by the Mayo Energy Agency as the most suitable location for a 100 per cent renewable energy island. It is anticipated that 60 to 70 people will be employed in the building phase.
Local contractors will be employed to carry out civil works and building materials will be sourced locally.
As part of the project a new broadband line will be brought from Castlebar to Achill.
The introduction of broadband will be of enormous benefit for existing and new IT businesses on the island.
In their submission the developers outline that numerous tourism strategies highlight the importance of showcasing Ireland as an environmentally clean country.
Wind farms can add to this by indicating our commitment to renewable energy and subsequently a cleaner environment.
As part of Airgen's public relations and environmental awareness policy, the wind farm will provide a significant opportunity to present public information to visitors, students and school children about the technology and economy of wind energy.
Recent studies conducted by MORI on the attitudes of tourists towards a wind farm in Argyle, Scotland, have concluded that they are well disposed to and in favour of wind farms.