Sir, – Kenneth Matthews, chief executive of the Irish Wind Energy Association, calls for an expansion of wind energy capacity in Ireland ("Why wind is the answer to Ireland's energy question", Opinion & Analysis, October 1st).
Members of the public are not opposed to wind energy but to plans for the location of enormous industrial wind turbines, many over 180 metres high, as close as 500 metres from their homes under current guidelines.
While it is understandable that the private sector seeks to maximise the interests of shareholders, it is the job of Government to protect the common good. Better to locate these massive structures offshore or, if on land, in open spaces well away from people’s homes. – Yours, etc,
GERALD O’CONNOR,
Ballynacargy,
Co Westmeath.