Energy company moves to progress Offaly wind farm plan
Eleven turbines proposed for east of county
A WIND energy company has moved to progress an 11-turbine project in east Offaly.
Galetech has applied to An Coimisiun Pleanala for an opinion on design flexibility in advance of a full application for planning permission.
The proposed Cushina Wind Farm will be located 2.5km south of Walsh Island in the townlands of Raheenakeeran, Enaghan, Clonsast Upper, Clonsast Lower, Cushina (Ballyshear Electoral Division), Cushina (Bracknagh Electoral Division), plus other townlands.
The company says the turbines will have blade tip heights of up to 220m and each one is expected to generate around 6-7.2 megawatts of electricity.
Galetech say enough power would be generated for about 85,700 houses.
The project has already run into some opposition and concerns were previously raised about a wind speed measuring mast.
The company said there will be an annual ‘near neighbour’ payment for homes within a 2km radius of each turbine as part of the project community benefit fund.
Galetech was also involved in the nine-turbine Cloghan Wind Farm in west Offaly.