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Updated at 4.06pm
THE DISTANCE FROM a wind turbine to a home must be directly related to the height of the turbine according to a bill set to be tabled by Sinn Féin later.
However, it has been criticised as it could ‘end onshore wind development in Ireland’.
The Wind Turbine Regulation Bill sets down that turbines must be located at a distance from a house that it is at least ten times the height of the turbine.
The distance relates to turbines that are taller than 25m with the height measured from the ground to the end of the blade tip at its highest point.
Sinn Féin also wants strict rules on Ireland’s export of wind energy, with the bill stating that wind exports should be prohibited until “the product is ‘excess power’ and Ireland is a self-sufficient island”.
The party says that the bill does not mean that they are opposed to windfarms with its Environment Spokesperson Brian Stanley claiming that it is more about correcting what they see as Government mistakes.
“This bill attempts to impose proper regulation of all aspects of wind turbine construction. This includes proper zoning of areas for wind turbine developments, the duties of planning authorities, setback distances and the responsibility of decommissioning wind turbines,” argues Stanley.
The Critical Infrastructure Act 2006, rammed through the Dáil by Fianna Fáil, can be used at present to override County Development Plans made by democratically elected councillors.
The Irish Wind Energy Association (IWEA) said the proposal is “effectively calling for an end to onshore wind development in Ireland”, and that it would cost jobs and Ireland’s energy security.
Chief Operating Officer Caitriona Diviney noted that previous studies show that once the separation distance is greater than 500m, the number of available sites drops significantly.
“This bill,” she said, “is wholly unnecessary and turns a blind eye to the already numerous safeguards and guidelines in place and the fact that suitable siting considerations are standard in all wind turbine planning processes”.
Sinn Féin says that the bill has been tabled in response to proposals to build upwards of a thousand wind farms in the Midlands, primarily as a means of exporting wind energy to the UK.
But these plans have recently been thrown into major doubt with a final agreement between the Irish and UK Government’s yet to be completed.
Originally published 7.45am. Additional reporting by Nicky Ryan.
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Imagine if they never existed, and Dublin City Council applied for planning to build them now, there would be people on the streets complaining that they will destroy the Dublin skyline! I guess people just don’t like change!
They have a history. They deserve their place. Seeing them towers when you fly back into Dublin is a good feeling. They’re a beacon for home. The cynics want them destroyed.
If they were building them nowadays the protesters would be out calling them a blot on the landscape.
Just because the pig-ugly things happen to be old some people decide that they are pretty.
Yay. Like it or lump it they are a much recognised part of the Dublin skyline. Sure they aren’t the prettiest things but it seems it’ll be a long time before we move away from the low rise bland – o – boxes we currently build.
This is the problem in this country. We will fight to save chimneys and to have tall buildings blocking out the sun but when it comes to the beautiful environment all around us we fail to see the true gift that we have
Poolbeg “towers”? They’re chimneys.. And they’re an eyesore. We should get rid of them and build a 300 ft statue similar to the one guarding Braavos harbour in Game of Thrones. Perhaps of a hurler brandishing a hurley or simply Roy Keane with his arms folded looking miffed.
Yes, now that would be money well spent.
I’m not from Dublin so I have no idea what the attraction is but anyone visiting the city they are a disgusting eyesore. It seems to be a Dublin trait tho, why else would Liberty Hall, the Heineken building and the rest of those monstrosities be standing. I was down beside Dublin Castle last night, seriously what other capital city would allow such a modern eyesore to be built at its gate beside City Hall.
Liberty Hall just needs a decent face lift. Solved
Looks to me like they ruin every one of those pictures. Far more beautiful bay without them.
They are a quintessential part of Dublin. They are our twin towers. There isn’t a more beautiful sight than seeing those chimneys as you come back home to land at Dublin airport.
Dublin bay itself is pretty impressive when landing as is howth
Not those towers
Yeah I am starting the paint fund next week if all 1.2 million dubliners and dublin commuters give a euro each we should have enough to get the scaffolding out and a nice bit of paint to freshen them up a bit.
You’d be doing well to get the scaffold built for 1.2 million. I’d imagine they’ll be painted by rope access though.
Just two decaying old industrial chimneys. Do we have to keep everything that’s old?
I don’t know of any other city which wants to hang onto eyesores like this – of no historical (or other) significance.
Badly stuck for scenery in Dublin if two chimney towers are all the rage.
Why can’t we have buildings that tall?
Everyone saying that the towers area eye sore cope on they have mean there more the 30 years and anyway what about that monstrosity on O’Connell street but that represents what Dublin has become a massive hypodermic needle
Hideous things… Tear them down. :)
I’d love to climb them, I wonder if they would let me?
I can assure you they won’t!! I’ve worked in the power station and every time I’m there I think about climbing them. The view would be incredible. Unfortunately the ladders only start about 20 metres off the ground to stop people climbing them. Hopefully the company I work for gets the painting contract!!
I work for ESB networks and have a 20 meter hoist that will get us up to the ladders I’ll meet you there in the morning bring your camera.
Sound. I’ll get started on a method statement …. ya know, just in case.
Well taken photos, but they’re just two big ugly industrial looking chimneys. I’m not a Dub though so maybe I wouldn’t understand.
I’m a Dub and I don’t really get it.
Two very decent chimneys. Im not a chimney man but for those chimney lover’s out there may I suggest any industrial Russian city, Germanys Ruhr, or closer to home middelsboro in north east england for a far larger selection of Industrial chimneys. Or for those on a budget a trip to lanesboro in county longford where an almost identical Chimney treat awaits.
Wind Turbines would suit that site.
(Queue the luddites who love the the long dead past.)
Wind turbines don’t suit any area. I’m saying that because I’m a Luddite, quite the opposite. They’re massively inefficient. I’d rather the existing power station turned nuclear.
James Shelley’s pic is great.
God, those chimneys are ugly. I remember when they built the second.
From memory the I original plan was for 4 of them!
Worked down there years ago … Some sight when your standing beside them one is a foot taller that other 680ft v 681 one looks much bigger looking up as it is thicker… Originally the red and white stripes were painted by travelling up inside the towers in a lift during construction and out over the top in harness (allegedly )!!!! I hear insurance is a big problem re the re painting etc either way some sight
I’m not from Dublin so I suppose I must tread carefully as it doesn’t affect me directly but I would hate to have to look at these things every day. I can’t understand people’s affection for them. Personally, I’d knock them and never look back.
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