Madam, - The Knockmealdown Protection Committee has several times - most recently in October - submitted objections to applications for wind turbine developments in and around the Knockmealdown Mountains. Now comes a national news story of great relevance. The news, reported in The Irish Times on December 4th is as follows:
"The electricity regulator, Mr Tom Reeves, has taken unprecedented measures to curb the amount of wind power on the electricity grid, following major concerns about the 'security and stability of the power system'.
"Acting on advice from the National Grid, the regulator has halted - with immediate effect - allowing new wind farms to connect to the system."
This is a development of major significance. Even before any new wind projects come on stream, the ESB National Grid cannot handle the existing power generation by wind installations. The ESB's managing director, Kieran O'Brien, has formally warned that "the \ amount of wind power does pose an increased risk to the security and stability of the power system".
He asks, moreover, that wind policies be reviewed, and no further offers to wind companies be made pending resolution of the problems and work on a co-ordinated wind policy for the whole island of Ireland.
We have laid out in all our objections in the past the reasons why - in our view - no wind turbine development should be permitted in the Knockmealdowns. The latest news alone, we suggest, is reason enough for county councils to put on hold the processing of any further wind turbine applications. We have urged Waterford County Council to do so in the case of all current applications, and to let its decision be known accordingly.
Over the years our committee has repeatedly called for no further wind turbine development until Ireland has a cogent national policy - establishing, not least, firm guidelines on where wind projects may be sited, and where they may not. This new development underlines the urgent need for such a policy. - Yours, etc.,
WILLIE O'DONOGHUE, Chairman, Knockmealdown Protection Committee, Crowhill Upper, Cappoquin, Co Waterford.