Sir - I greeted the recent announcement by Minister Frank Fahy seeking proposals for offshore wind-farms with fury and incredulity.
I am a avid supporter of wind energy but the proper place for wind turbines is on dry land. Whatever one may say about the industry, I have never heard of anyone being killed by a windmill. The sea is not empty space; it is populated by our fishermen and sailors and is a harsh and unforgiving environment. Inevitably, given the certainty of storms, collisions will occur and the price of going offshore will be paid with lives. Of course the sensibilities of the hill-walking elite are important but at what cost?
Many of the genuine concerns about wind energy relate to the imposition of large wind-farms owned by large corporations on rural communities who have absolutely nothing to gain. Comdhail Oileain na hEireann and others have made repeated submissions to the Green Paper on Energy and elsewhere on the need for continuous access to the grid for small wind-power projects which could be promoted by individuals or communities. Given the right scheme we could have communities embracing wind power on a vast scale rather than uniting to oppose projects. So far absolutely nothing concrete has been achieved in this area.
Here on Oilean Chleire and neighbouring Bere Island we have full planning permission and funding available for small .5mw wind projects. We could be in production within six months. This exercise could be repeated throughout the country as communities and farmers see the benefits of wind energy. The technology is tried, tested and absolutely reliable.
So far our access to the grid has been blocked while the Department look to unproven and vastly more expensive technology which is, apparently, to be placed in "someone else's back yard". Not good enough! - Yours, etc.,
Seamus O Drisceoil, Comhdail LEADER 11 Officer, Oilean Chleire, Cork.