A chara, - Your report in Out of the Midwest (April 7th) might suggest to readers that there is no support in Clare for wind energy. On the contrary. Clare Green Party's leadership and its elected representative welcomed this particular proposal by the ESB on March 15th when it was first announced.
The re-use of the heavily industrialised site of the coalburning Moneypoint power station and its infrastructure to produce clean, green. renewable energy is a progressive and forward-thinking initiative in our view and clearly underlines the enormous potential benefits of renewable energy sources to localities suffering from lack of traditional industrial support and infrastructure.
The contentious issue of the visual impact of wind turbines on the landscape must be overcome by Government funding and action to identify locations suitable for wind energy. We repeat our call for a comprehensive study to be made of Co Clare. The leadership of organisations such as Meitheal na Gaoithe, backed by the IFA and ICMSA, points to the need for bottom-up promotion of wind energy that would result in community and local incentives and benefits.
Wind and other renewable energies have a promising future in Clare. The obstacles that they represent for some must be overcome by a calm and methodical mediation that respects the difficulties of change. - Is mise,
Cllr Donal O Bearra, Clare Greens/Comhaontas Glas, Cnoc na Raithnigh, Ennis, Co Clare.
