Campaigners to meet over plan for Limerick wind turbine project

AN INFORMATION evening is to be held next Wednesday in Bruff over plans for a new wind farm in the area.

Developers are looking to build 17 turbines across eight townlands in the area, with campaigners saying 16 of these will tower higher than Dublin's Spire.

The Bruff GAA clubhouse will play host to the March 11 meeting, starting at 7:30pm, organised by the Bruff-Dromin Athlacca-Ballinlee Action Group.

They were formed in opposition to the plans by Ballinlee Green Energy.

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Guest speaker at the meeting will be Brenda Dowling, of Coolcappa, who is part of a campaign group opposing a wind farm in her area.

She is also leading a coalition of communities locally who are against the development of wind farms in rural Limerick.

Other people campaigning against wind farms will also speak out at the meeting.

A spokesperson for the action group has dismissed claims that wind energy is the cheapest form of electricity.

They pointed to research which showed payments made when wind output is turned down because the network cannot absorb it is in the region of €450m per year.

A spokesperson for Greensource, a company linked to Ballinlee Green Energy said: “The global community is facing an urgent climate crisis, and the transition to renewable energy sources is an essential step toward reducing its impacts. Wind energy is a proven, efficient, and sustainable solution, significantly contributing to local, regional and national renewable energy targets.”

The spokesperson added its wind farms are in compliance with all relevant regulations, ensuring minimal environmental impact, while maximising energy output.