From deadly heatwaves across Europe to devastating wildfires in Hawaii, the world is feeling the effects of climate change. Here in Ireland, we felt the heat during the warmest June on record and then witnessed the wettest July ever recorded. There is no doubt that extreme weather events, driven by climate change, are becoming increasing common and affect us all.
FuturEnergy Ireland aims to combat climate change by increasing the amount of clean, green electricity on the grid, which reduces carbon emissions, lowers wholesale prices and decreases our reliance on imported fossil fuels. We develop wind energy projects in a responsible and respectful manner so that local communities, as well as Ireland as a whole, will benefit. As a Coillte-ESB joint venture, all FuturEnergy Ireland revenue and returns remain in Ireland.
We understand people have questions and concerns when they hear about a wind farm being developed in their area. In November 2020, at the launch of Scart Mountain Wind Farm near Cappoquin, we published answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about wind farms, backed up with scientific studies, independent references and peer-reviewed research.
This Fact File covers topics such as:
• Noise
• Shadow flicker
• Environmental effects
• Health
• Property values … and much more
You can find the Fact File on the project website www.scartmountainwindfarm.ie.
The project team has regularly updated this comprehensive list of questions throughout 2023 with additional answers to queries raised by the local community.
If you would prefer a hard copy of the Fact File, please contact our Community Liaison Officers (CLOs) John O’Halloran and Liam Cleary (details below) and one will be posted to you.
There are many good examples in Ireland where well-designed wind farms co-exist harmoniously with recreational amenities, tourism, forestry and farming activities. With the addition of a commercial wind farm to the local economy comes a Community Benefit Fund, which brings much-needed reliable annual funding to support local initiatives and broader strategic projects. For Scart Mountain Wind Farm, this fund is estimated at approximately €11million over the 30-year lifespan of the project, which would be a huge enabler of important projects in Co Waterford.
The project team will provide a status update at the Scart Mountain webinar on Thursday, August 24th, 2023 at 7pm, when some of these topics will come up for discussion. Please register to join the session by emailing scartmountain@futurenergyireland.ie. For those unable to join, a hard copy of the presentation can be posted to you.
Our community engagement continues, with our CLOs available to answer any additional queries and questions by phone, email or in person. There will also be a local community clinic later in the year, which will provide an opportunity to meet the team in person.
CONTACT US
Call John O’Halloran 087-7427293 or Liam Cleary 087-9671981.
