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Will property prices be affected?
Yes. A recent study by Leibniz Institute for Economic Research in Germany showed a 23% decrease in property values in rural locations, €80k loss on a €350k home. See HERE for more information.
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Who are the Landowners?
Of the 8 Turbines proposed, 3 are owned by 2 local land owners, the owners of the remaining 5 are not from the area and will not be affected by them.
For a full list of Landowners and lands involved see HERE.
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Who are RWE?
RWE are Europe’s No.1 polluter - According to a March 2021 study commissioned by Greenpeace, RWE is the largest emitter of Scope 1 greenhouse emissions in Europe with 89 million tonnes annually.
RWE have, and continue to bulldoze a village every year in Germany for the last 30 years to open brown coal mines. See Sky News report HERE:
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How big are the Turbines?
Approx 180 metres/ 600 Feet/ 60 Storeys. 5 Times the height of Bunratty castle.
The Rotor Diameter from tip to tip is 136m, the length of a GAA Pitch
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Will there be more than 8 Turbines?
Yes, a second Windfarm is proposed alongside the Fahybeg Windfarm on Lackareagh Mountain. There are currently a total of 15 Turbines proposed with more in the pipeline.
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Will the Windfarm power 30,000 homes as mentioned in the brochure?
No, the Windfarm will consist 8 x 4.75 Mega Watt Turbines totaling 38MW.
However onshore Wind Turbines are much less efficient than offshore and only operate with a Capacity Factor of approx. 32% on average. This equates to an output of 12MW over the year. The Data Centre recently approved for construction in Ennis will require 200MW of power, in other words 130 of these Turbines.
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Who is Kieran O’Byrne ?
The RWE representative knocking on your door is the Ex-Chairman of Birdwatch Ireland who has previously objected to Windfarms around the country due to their danger to Birdlife. However, since then Kieran has put profit before conscience, acting as the PR agent for the Scientology Cult in Ireland see HERE and now flogging Windfarms regardless of their proven impact on birdlife.
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Will the Community benefit financially from the WindFarm?
The Community Benefit Fund will pay money into the community for 12-15 years however the planning permission will be for 30-35 years.
Houses with in 1km will receive Compensation of approx €10 per week after tax and houses within 2km will receive approx €5 per week after tax but only for the 12-15 year duration of the RESS scheme. The planning permission and payments to Landowners will be for 30-35 years.
The remaining money will be available to organisations up to a 20km radius to the Windfarm but can only be spent on specific UN Sustainability Goals relating to Climate Change and Renewable Energy.
The Landowners involved will pocket circa €10 million over the 30 year life of the Windfarm with the potential to earn much more once they are allowed to sell energy to the open market once the initial 12-15 year commitment to the RESS scheme has elapsed.
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Will the Windfarm be decommissioned after the planning permission has elapsed ?
Unlikely, most Windfarms are sold off the plans once planning permission is granted or shortly after construction to Foreign Investors and Pension Funds.
The proposed bond to be paid to Clare County Council would not be near sufficient to cover the decommissioning costs including proceeds from the scrap value.
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Will there be Noise?
Some locals have mentioned that the noise will be equivalent to that of a “small fridge”
The Vestas V136 Turbine and Enercon E138 which are some of the proposed models to be used, list 104 dB as the noise level in their technical specifications.
The Decibel Scale lists a Helicopter at 100dB!
The "small fridge" must be in the Helicopter!
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Is there an alternative?
Yes, Offshore Wind is the future.
Offshore Wind Turbines have an average Capacity Factor of over 50% therefore would produce over 56% more Electricity than an equivalent onshore Turbine. Offshore Turbines can be also be much larger.
Irelands Offshore territories are 10 times the size of the island of Ireland with no restrictions due to close proximity to homes.
