Wind farm planned to power Kerry homes

A WIND FARM capable of supplying energy to 53,000 homes is proposed for an elevated area near Kilgarvan, Co Kerry.

The 28-turbine farm is planned for the townland of Grousemount, and if planning permission is obtained, up to 600 acres will be required from local people.

The firm behind the project is Hibernian Wind Power, a Dublin-based company which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the ESB. An application for planning permission is expected to be lodged with Kerry County Council in the next four to six weeks.

An information meeting is due to be held in the community hall, Kilgarvan, on Wednesday next.

Company representatives will be in attendance to answer queries, and maps and illustrations will be available for public inspection.

Company spokesman John Quane said yesterday that Hibernian Wind Power wants to work with the local community, adding that the development would have almost no visual impact.

“This is like a saucer-shaped area. The turbines will be kept off the ridges and will not be visible from roads, or houses, in 90% of the area,” he said.

The turbines will be about 70 metres in height and the blades will measure 40 metres, but sizes can be varied if necessary.

Hibernian Wind Power described the Kerry area as a very high-quality location for the generation of wind energy.

An environmental impact study is being carried out to assess any implications for the environment, and it will be submitted to Kerry County Council along with the planning application.