Wind Wars in the Hills of Donegal

national | environment | press release Wednesday November 11, 2009 22:05 by Donegal Alternatives to Pylons - Donegal Alternatives to Pylons DonegalATP at gmail dot com

An Bord Pleanála Board has overruled its own Inspectors and given the go ahead for a high voltage power line to run through South and West Donegal. This ESB Networks and Eirgrid project is not, as they maintain, to supplement the energy needs of County Donegal but rather to facilitate wind energy developers in their rush to profit at the expense of people in Donegal and their environmental heritage.
However local opposition is strong and Donegal Alternatives to Pylons is not going away.

Donegal Alternatives to Pylons would like to advise land owners in Donegal that their statutory rights are not affected by An Bord Pleanála's decision to grant planning permission for a high voltage power line which they propose to erect across the following 87 townlands - Binbane, Meenacahan, Cloghervaddy, Meenagranoge, Meenybradden, Croagh, Meenadreen, Carrickstlieve Glebe, Monargan Glebe, nugborough, Gortnacart Glebe, Corraness Glebe, Garvegort Glebe, Kilrean Lower, Kilrean Upper, Tullyard, Gortnamucklagh, Letterilly, Loughcrillan, Stranagloch, Meenalargan, Straboy, Shallogan More, Shallogan Beg, Drumnalough, Drumconcoose, Meenamalragh, Stracashel, Meenachuit, Clogher East, Meenanarwa, Boultypatrick, Lughveen, Montymeane, Stranagoppoge,Meenasrone North, Bellanamore, Meenmore East, Meenadoran, Tievedeevan, Kingarrow, Cummrick, Meenatinny, Meeniroy, Meenacung, Altinierin, Altadush, Tullyhonour, Treankeel, Meenadaura, Ballygallan, Drumenan, Killymasny, Cark, Lenalea, Kirkneedy, Ballystrang, Rareagh, Listack, Corravaddy, Stralongford, Glentilid, Dooballagh, Corranagh, Listellian, Ardnagappary, Meenderrygamph, Dore, Arduns, Crolly, Cronaguiggy, Meencorwick, Bunawack, Lettercau, Ardmeen, Crohyboyle, Crovehy, Craghy, Oughtmeen, Croaghnashallog, Meenleckanalore, Croghbolie, Drumlaghdrid, Meenacarn, Galwolie, Boyoughter and Cloghercor.

The group say landowners should not be intimidated into signing any documents presented to them. ESB are offering land owners small sums of money but how much money is worth losing your health and the friendship of your neighbours for?
The proposed 110kv power line would be between 60 metres to 200 metres away from the existing 38kv which would create a sterile corridor between the two power lines. This would curtail farming practises as it is very unhealthy to live near or graze animals between power lines.
Donegal Alternatives to Pylons are demanding the same electricity supply service as in Dublin where power lines are put underground.
The fact is that ESB Networks and Eirgrid want to put these power lines over our hills and bogs to facilitate wind turbines.
Why should wind companies profit while farmers, home owners, tourism ventures, B&B owners, hoteliers, pubs and restaurants lose money?
There are many studies which show that there are health implications from living near power lines while property prices go down by 30% where pylons and wind turbines are erected. Donegal's tourism industry is in its infancy but tourists will stop coming if our majestic landscape is lost.
Other small countries like Belgium, the Netherlands and Denmark put all power lines underground as they consider them dangerous and European Directives prohibit pylons in sensitive landscapes. The ESB and the Irish government is operating outside of these Directives where the provision of electricity is concerned.
Donegal Alternatives to Pylons has been informed that the ESB and wind profiteers are approaching small landowners to persuade them to allow pylons and wind turbines on their land but what they are not telling them is that they could be sued if their neighbours develop 'wind turbine syndrome' or cancers from the high voltage power lines necessary to work the turbines.
Also land owners should know that no insurance company will insure lands where poles, pylons or turbines are erected and if an accident or landslide were to happen it would be the landowner who would be liable.
Donegal already produces more wind energy than any other county in Ireland at 225MegaWatts, ten times more than Wicklow or Mayo, for instance which are just as windy. Typically there are no turbines in the Taoiseach or Minister for the Environment's constituencies because the large local populations would oppose the electricity infrastructure needed to drive turbines.
Views around Buncrana, Letterkenny, Donegal Town, Ardara and Killybegs have already been ruined by pylons and turbines and Donegal Alternatives to Pylons says 'Enough is Enough'.
The group say that while Donegal's population may be small and the votes few, the people in Donegal will not be trampled on.
You can contact them by emailing DonegalATP@gmail.com or
on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Donegal-Alternatives-to-P...=wall
Please support our efforts to save the Hills of Donegal for future generations.