WHAT IS HAPPENING
RWE Renewables plan to build five 600ft /180m wind turbines from Castlegarden to Raheenroche, with serious environmental and financial impact on all residents. WHY IT’S BAD
Our small valley and Coppenagh Gap are not suitable for development on such a huge scale. It will bring us:
• Years of large-scale building works
• A future building and development embargo around the windfar
m and routes to it once it is established
• Regular detours, roadworks, and heavy duty vehicles damaging and congesting roads
• Habitat destruction for protected species and local wildlife
• Significant and permanent loss of property values
• Potential for long term illness and reduced quality of life in the community and hinterland, and home abandonments
• A blight on Kilkenny’s beautiful landscape. it will be visible from 5 counties and will ruin Coppenagh Gap - Kilkenny's second highest point. OUR CONCERNS
While renewable energy is vital to our future, a technology with less than 30% efficiency is not the way! The only clean part of wind energy is the wind. RWE plans to submit the formal application January 2023 with only five weeks for residents to review, respond / object, or seek expert advice on what is likely to be close to a 1000 page submission. RWE plan to start works in 2023, and are unwilling to share their detailed impact assessments (e.g. water, noise, ecological, traffic etc.) until formal planning submission. WHAT CAN YOU DO?
• Raise your concerns in writing now with your local councilors and TDs. There will be little time when the planning application goes in.
• Sign our Save the Valley Petition.
• Be ready to join meetings to stay up-to-date on developments and voice your concerns. We will keep you informed!
• Visit our website for more information (soon to be published) - https://saveourvalley.squarespace.com/
• Record local wildlife sightings on the national biodiversity data site (e.g. birds, bats, mammals, unusual plants) https://records.biodiversityireland.ie/
• Be ready to rapidly submit your objection to the official planning application.
