The group recently learned that Skibbereen based company, Organic Power, intends to erect 16 wind turbines in the local area and are up in arms about the impact the decision may have on the local area and the local community.

The proposed development which includes five clusters of wind turbines will be located over lands stretching from the North of Castletown Kinneigh to the North of Newcestown and will cost in the region of €45 million.

Local representatives who gathered outside County Hall, to make their local councillors aware of their fears, stressed that while they were not anti-renewable energy or opposed to turbines, they were seriously concerned about the scale of the development which would be located in a rural, residential community.

A spokesperson for the group said that they were also disappointed with the lack of information about the development which was being given to them  and said that although Organic Power had held public meetings about the development, there was very little information provided at these and in particular that the company had not provided a model of the development.

Responding to the claims, Liam Chambers Director of Organic Power said that they have written to the group and told them that they are willing to discuss and negotiate details of the proposed development. He also highlighted that many of the stakeholders and landowners involved in the project were actually living in the area and described how an independently audited survey of 100 randomly selected interviewees in the area showed that 96 per cent of people feel that a wind project is a good idea for the area and 4 per cent felt it would be incompatible with the area.

He added that unfortunately they were unable to display a model of the development at the last week’s public meetings because the model is not ready yet but, said that Organic Power would not apply for planning permission for the development until the model goes on public display .

A copy of Organic Power’s proposal for the Enniskeane - Newcestown Wind Power Project is available from www.organicpower.ie.

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