Wind farm opposition forces co-op to buy plant in North

A SMALL dairy co-operative in West Cork has bought a wind farm in a Northern border town at the cost of 8 million — because it has been unable to build one locally.

The co-op plans to spend another 5m developing the wind farm by adding six new giant turbines to the 10 in existence.

Shareholders at Lisavaird Co-op are to be told of the expansion plans shortly, which is a joint venture with South-Western Services. Sources close to the deal say they had been forced into the move by opposition to wind farm development in west Cork. The wind farm is located at Owenreagh, five miles from Strabane on the Tyrone-Donegal border.