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Donegal Alternatives to Pylons Banner with inserts of what areas whould look like if this high voltage power line is allowed to be erected
 Rinne Bord Soláthar an Leictreachais(BSL) iarratas ar chead pleanála do líne ardchumhacha 110kv agus dhá fhostáisiún i 1999 agus cheadaigh Comhairle Contae Dhún na nGall an t-iarratas. Rinneadh achomharc ar an chead seo chuig an Bord Pleanála agus bhí Éisteacht Bhéil ar siúl ar an Chlochán Liath ar feadh dhá sheachtain i mí na Nollag 2000. Bhí costas mór ar an an Éisteacht seo agus bhí ar an lucht agóide saineolaithe ar chúrsaí leictreachais a thabhairt go Dún na nGall le tacú lena gcás. I 2001 dhiúltaigh An Bord Pleanála cead a thabhairt don líne ardchumhachta a bhí le dul ón Bhinn Bán ‘na nGleanntach trasna Abhainn an Ghaoth Beara agus ar aghaidh go Leitir Ceanainn trí Ghaoth Dobhair, An Fál Carrach agus an Craoslach. I mí na Nollag 2008 rinne BSL agus Eirgrid iarratas eile díreach chuig An Bord Pleanála agus ceadaíodh é. Ins an iarratas seo moltar líne a thógáil ón Bhinn Bán tríd na Gleanntaí, agus ar aghaidh go Gaoth Beara agus Gaoth Dobhair agus líne ardchumhachta eile a thógáil ó na Gleanntaí go Leitir Ceanainn trí Bhéal an Átha Mhóir, An Ceann Garbh, Mín na Ruaidhe agus Cark aít a bhfuil 70 tuirbín gaoithe tógtha. Cuireadh mórán gearáin chuig An Bord Pleanála agus bhí Éisteacht Bhéil eile ar siúl i Leitir Ceanainn i mí Aibreán 2009 thar tréimhse dhá sheachtain ar chostas mór don lucht agóide. I mí na Samhna 2009 d’ullmhaigh cigire An Bhord Pleanála a thuairisc inar luadh go raibh mórán den slí molta ina cheantar scéimhe agus dá bhrí sin gur chóir an líne a chur faoi thalaimh nó sin go ndéanfaí machnamh athuair ar an slí molta. Rinne An Bord Pleanála moltá a gcigire féin a chur ar neamhní agus thug cead pleanála do BSL agus Eirgrid don líne ardchumhachta dhá fhostáisiún nua agus stáisiún lascacháin a thógáil. Ní thagann línte ardchumhachta agus piolóín faoin Ordú Ceannaigh Éigeantaigh (CPO) agus dá bhrí sin tá deis ag daoine cead a dhiultú do BSL agus Eirgrid theacht isteach ar a gcuid talaimh fiú go bhfuil cead pleanála tugtha. Is cinnte go dtig le húineoirí talaimh cead a thabhairt do BSL agus Eirgrid theacht isteach ar a gcuid talaimh ach iarrann muidne orthu ceist a chur orthu féin cad is fiú a sláinte agus a slí bheatha dóibh féin agus do na glúinte atá le theacht. Beidh an dlíodóir Michael Gillespie ag trácht ar impleachtaí a eascróidh as cinnithe úineoirí talaimh a shocraíonn cáipéisí cead slí ar a dtalamh a shíniú. Tá muidne in ATP ag tabhairt comhairle d’úineoirí talaimh nach bhfuil ag iarraidh línte ardchumhachta agus piolóin ar a gcuid talaimh a gcuid geaftaí a dhruid agus comharthaí a chur in airde a léireoidh go bhfuiltear ag diúltú cead slí do BSL, Eirgrid agus a ngníomhairí. Níor chóir go síneodh na húineoirí talaimh sin aon cháipéisí a bhronann BSL, Eirgrid nó a ngníomhairí orthu. Má shíníonn tú cáipéisí cead slí tá tú ag géilleadh d’úineoireacht ar do thalamh faoi agus ina aice na línte ardchumhachta, na cuaillí agus na piolóin suas go 60 meadar (180 troigh) maraon le cead slí buan a thabhairt do BSL ar do chuid talaimh.  D’fheadfadh na comhlachtaí cumhachta seo an talamh a dhíol nó a leasáil ag dáta níos moille le comhlachtaí fóntais eile ar nós comhlachtaí gáis agus telefóin gan cúiteamh breise a chur ar fáil do na h-úineoirí talaimh. Ardaítear an cheist cé atá freagrach ó thaobh an dlí de má tharlaíonn timpiste agus daoine ag trasnú do chuid talaimh le fáil fhad leis na línte ardchumhachta nó piolóin. Má roghnaíonn tú réiteach trí chúiteamh ba chóir duit na himpleachtaí go léir a thuigbheáil a bhaineann lena bhfuil tú ag aontú leis. Tá muidne in ATP ag moladh d’úineoirí talaimh nach bhfuil ag iarraidh go mbeadh línte ardchumhachta agus piolóin ar a gcuid talaimh a gcuid geaftaí a ghlasáil agus comharthaí a chur suas ag diúltú cead isteach do BSL, Eirgrid agus a gcuid gníomhairí. Má shíníonn tú cáipéisí tá tú ag tabhairt suas úineoireacht do chuid talaimh faoi agus in aice na línte ardchumhachta, cuaillí agus piolóin suas go 60 meadar ar airde (180 troigh) maraon le cead slí buan a thabhairt do BSL ar do chuid talaimh. Bí mar bhall dár ngrúpa agus sínigh diúltú cead isteach do na comhlachtaí cumhachta ar do chuid talaimh. Is ar scáth a chéile a dtig linn an líne seo a stopadh. Tá mórán daoine i nDún na nGall nach bhfuil ag iarraidh an líne ardchumhacht mar go dtuigeann siad go bhfuil impleachtaí sláinte ag baint na línte ardchumhachta agus piolóin. Tá a fhios acu go bhfaigheann daoine agus ainmhithe a chónaíonn in aice leis na línte ardchumhachta ailse. Tá a fhios acu fosta go dtiteann luach maoine atá ina aice na bpiolóín 30 % agus 80 % má tá siad in aice tuirbíní gaoithe. Tá a fhios ag an lucht agóide gur féidir línte archumhachta atá os cionn talaimh a uasghrádáil go cinn i bhfad níos cumhachtaí gan cead pleanála a lorg agus más airde an chumhacht gur airde an líon cásanna ailse. Coinnigh cuimhne nach nglacfaidh an líne nua áit an líne 38kv reatha ach go bhfuil sé i gceist aige reáchtáil comhthreormhar leis suas go 200 meadar (600 troigh) ionas go gruthófar conair aimrid idir an dá líne aít nach mbeidh ainmhithe in ann innilt agus a dtiocfaidh tinneas ar dhaoine. I dtaca le páistí de tá 69 % seans níos airde acu ailse a fháil má tá cónaí orthu in aice le piolóin agus tá seo fíor fiú má tá na piolóin 600 meadar (1 míle ) ar shiúl. Dé bhrí gur féidir le réimse leictrea-maighnéadach taisteal achar fada leis an ghaoth tá an baol ann gur féidir le hacomhal spaigití d’ardchumhachta tarlú i nDún na nGall agus tá an smaoineamh seo thar a bheith scanraitheach. I Stáit Aontaithe Mheiriceá léirigh California Health Department Services cúig chineál tinnis a bhfuil baint acu le bheith ina gcónaí in aice le línte ardchumhachtai. Is iad na tinnisi sin ná : leoicéime ar pháistí agus ar dhaoine fásta, ailse inchinne, Galar Nearóin Luadraigh agus breith anaibí. Tá roinnt daoine a shileann nach bhfuil aon bhuntáiste ag baint leis an taobh tíre ach dóibh siúd in earnáil na turasóireachta tá a fhios acu go maith gurb é an taobh tíre a mheallann turasóirí go Dún na nGall. Is é tionscal na turasóireachta an príomhfhostóir sa chontae agus caitheann turasóirí airgead i siopaí, tithe tábhairne, cúrsaí gailf, tithe saoire ar cíos srl. Seans go síleann tú nach bhfuil tú aon bhaint ag seo leat mar nach bhfuil tú ag obair i earnáil na turasóireachta ach b’fhéidir go bhfuil tú ag smaoineamh suíomh a dhíol. Molaim duit smaoineamh athuair air seo mar má labhrann tú le ceantálaí ar bith agus fiafraí dó faoi na deacrachtaí a bhaineann le maoin ar a bhfuil líne ardchumhachta nó piolóin tógtha gar dó a dhíol tosóidh tú ag smaoineamh ar dhóigh difriúil faoi chúiteamh a ghlacadh ó BSL. Aontaíonn tromlach na gceantálaithe go dtiteann luach maoine atá in aice línte cumhachta fá 30% agus fá 80 % in aice le piolóin agus anois tá muid ag tarraingt ar an scéal fíor faoin líne ardchumhachta seo. Níl sé i gceist ag na línte ardchumachta seo cumhacht a thabhairt isteach go Dún na nGall ach a mhalairt is é sin cumhacht a thabhairt amach ó na feirmeach gaoithe. I láthair na huaire tá níos mó tuirbíní i nDún na nGall ná atá in aon chontae eile. Tá deich n-oiread tuirbíní i nDún na nGall is atá i gcontaetha Chill Mantáin agus Mhaigh Eo. Níl aon tuirbín i lár na tíre mar go bhfuil tromlach lucht vótála na tíre ina gcónaí i mBaile Átha Cliath agus níl siad ag iarraidh go gcuirfeadh tuirbíní isteach ar a radharcanna. Má thógtar feirm gaoithe in aice leat tá gá le líne ardchumhachta leis an fuinneamh a iompar ar shiúl agus caithfear cothabháil a dhéanamh ar an ghreille. Má thugar cead feirm gaoithe a fhorbairt i gceantar mothaíonn daoine a bhfuil cónaí orthu suas go 10 ciliméadar(4 mhíle) uaidh ‘siondróm tuirbín gaoithe’. Ciallaionn sin go mbíonn daoine agus ainmhithe ag fulaingt go leanúnach ó thruailliú aeir ó lanna na dtuirbíní chomh maith le caochaíl leanúnach soilse taobh istigh agus taobh amuigh dá dtithe cónaithe. Ní haon aibhéil a rá ach an síltear gur chóir go ruaigfí daoine ó na tailte a d’oibir ár sinsear ar feadh na glúinte le hallas a malacha agus a d’fhulaing crá croí nuair a b’éigean dá gclann dhul ar imirce? An bhfuil deireadh ré pobal tuaithe Contae Dhún na nGall agus go háirithe pobal na Gaeltactha ag druidim linn? Baineann muidne anseo i nDún na nGall le pobal atá ligthe i ndearmad –an bhfuil siad le muid a bhánú ón talamh chomh maith? Éireann ainmhithe tinn agus ní théann siad ag innilt in aice na dtuirbíní. Bíonn madaí ag béicigh i rith na hoíche agus cuirtear isteach ar chodladh daoine. Titeann daoine i ndroim dúch agus téann an scéal chun donais muna bhfuil rudaí olc go leor i nDún na nGall cheana féin gan seo tarlú. Ní mise atá ag rá seo ach is é seo torthái taighde agus thig liom an tagairt a thabhairt ach é a iarraidh uaim mas spéis libh léamh faoin ábhar. Sa chás go dtógtar línte ardchumhachta, piolóin agus tuirbíní gaoithe cuirtear brú ar dhaoine a gcuid tithe agus talamh a dhíol. Ní cheannóidh aon duine do chuid talaimh nó do bhaile ach amháin na comhlachtaí tuirbíní gaoithe agus táirgeoidh siad praigheas chomh híseal le 20% de luach an mhargaidh air mar tuigeann siad nach mbeidh spéis ag aon duine eile ann agus é cóngarach do phiolóin agus tuirbíní. Mar thoradh air seo déantar an ceantar a rangú mar cheantar nach bhfuil aon luach scéimhe ag baint leis agus tosaítear ar thuilleadh piolóin agus tuirbíní a thógáil agus bíonn ar na daoine sna chéad bailte fearainn eile cur suas le truailliú agus galair nó sin a gcuid gabháltais a dhíol ar luach suarach. Leanfaidh an treocht ó bhaile fearainn go baile fearainn go dtí sa deireadh nach mbeidh fágtha i sléibhte Dhún na nGall ach monarcha mór gaoithe ceangailte ag mórán línte ardchumhachta mar a bheadh slabhra iarainn thart ar na sléibhte agus ar sceadamán na ndaoine. Diúltaíonn muid do seo - Tá muintir Dhún na nGall righin agus seasóidh muid an fód agus ní chuirfear dallamullóg orainn agus i ndáiríre chímid a bhfuil i gceist ag polasaithe an Rialtais. Is aisteach an scéal go bhfuil moladh á fháil i gcónaí ag Dún na nGall de bharr áilleacht na contae agus ag an am céanna tá an Rialtas ag cur chun cinn polasaithe a mhilleann agus a scriosann an taobh tíre le línte ardchumhachta agus tuirbíní gaoithe. Ní comhtharlú é go bhfuil chóir a bheith an chuid is mó de slí an líne ardchumhachta beartaithe agus an iliomad iarratas ar thuirbíní gaoithe le bheith i gceantar Gaeltachta Dhún na nGall. An síleann siad gur amadáin ata sna daoine agus go ligfidh siad do BSL gach atá thart orthu a scrios? Agus deir na polaiteoirí: ‘Á …..is é polasaí an Rialtais go dtógfar tuirbíní gaoithe agus piolóin agus goidé a thig linne a dhéanamh faoi?‘ Bhí sé mar pholasaí ag an Rialtas go mbánofaí ár n-oileáin bheaga agus tabhairt ar na daoine dhul a chónaí ar an mhórthír. Bhí sé mar pholasaí ag an Rialtas dul thart fríd an tír ag ceannacht go saor talamh seandaoine fá choinne foraoiseacha sa dóigh is nach bhfuil aon bhaile anois ag a gcuid páistí nó a muintir. Bhí se mar pholasaí ag an Rialtas tionscal na hiascaireachta a dhíol leis an Eoraip agus inniu is beag iasc a thugar i dtír i nDún na nGall. Bhí sé mar pholasaí ag an Rialtas dreasachtaí cánach a thabhairt do fhorbróirí le 300,000 teach a thógáil agus atá anois ina luí folamh ar fud na hÉireann agus a d’fhág an tír gan pingin. Ar an ábhar sin tá a fhios againn go minic nach rud maith nó tairbheach i gcónaí iad polasaithe an Rialtais. Ach ag an am céanna tá an Rialtas ag tabhairt faoiseamh cánach do lucht truaillithe agus luach rachmuis le línte dainséaracha ardchumhachta agus tuirbíní a chur suas ar fud Dhún na nGall. Tá na forbróirí céanna a d’fhág an tír sa riocht ina bhfuil sí anois ag tarraingt línte ar mhapa Dhún na nGall agus ag tiontú comharsan in éadan comharsan. Síleann roinnt daoine gur mór an suim airgid é €10,000 sa bhliain le tuirbín a chur suas ar do chuid talaimh. Is mór an suim airgid é ach níl ann ach céadcodán beag den airgead a dhéanann an comhlacht gaoithe ar do chostas-sa agus ar chostas do chomharsan a bhfuil a chuid talamh buailte le do chuidse. Céard faoi má thagann ailse ar do chomharsan agus go socraíonn sé cúiteamh a lorg uaitse? Mó má éireann tú breoite cé a íocfaidh ar an cóir leighis a bheidh de dhíth ort? Cé a choinneoidh greim láimhe ort agus tú ar bhus na hailse go Baile Átha Cliath? 16. Má ligtear do na polasaithe seo leanúint ar aghaidh scriosfaidh siad tionscal turasaóireachta Dhún na nGall chomh maith le sláinte an phobail agus slí mhaireachtála na bhfeirmeoirí a chur i mbaol. Tá socrú déanta ag BSL le Cumann Feirmeoirí Éireann (IFA) agus shocraigh siad cén luach atá ar do chuid talaimh, ar do shláinte agus ar shláinte do chomharsan. Ach ag deireadh an lae is é do shláinte do shaibhreas agus ní féidir luach airgid a chur air sin. Déanann BSL agus an Rilatas an cás gur chóir go mbeadh na línte ardchumhachta agus tuirbíní gaoithe againn. Is é an dóigh is saoire le leictreachas a iompar amach as Dún na nGall ná na línte a chur os cionn talamh ar phiolóin agus ar an ábhar sin deir BSL agus an Rialtas go gcaithfidh muid an modh seo a ghlacadh. Dá gcuirfí an líne archumhachta faoi thalamh ní chosnódh sé ach dúbailt an chostais é a chur os cionn talaimh. Ag an Éisteacht Bhéil a bhí a siúl i Leitir Ceanainn d’admhaigh BSL nar smaoinigh siad fiú amháin ar an líne a chur faoi thalamh i dtollán seirbhísí le cois na mbóithre. Dá gcuirfí an líne faoi thalamh bheadh sábháilt airgid ann mar ní gá a bheith buartha faoi chliseadh cumhachta i ndiaidh stoirmeacha gaoithe móire agus chomh maith le sin ní bheadh aon ghá le crainn agus fáltaí a ghearradh. Tá muid go léir ar an eolas faoi chomh minic is a chliseann ar an chumhacht i nDún na nGall de bharr stoirmeacha gaoithe móire. Is é an réiteach atá air seo ná an líne a chur faoi thalamh mar is beag cliseadh a bhíonn le línte a chuirtear faoi thalamh. Deir BSL go gcosnóidh sé €40m. an líne a chur os cionn talamh agus €80 m. lena chur faoi thalamh. I 2007 rinne BSL brabach i ndiadh cánach de €432. Is fiú billiún euro comhlacht BSL agus d’éirigh siad chomh saibhir sin le hairgead s’againne. Mar chomhlacht leathstáit tá cumhachtaí aige nach bhfuil ag an phobal ná ag comhlachtaí eile ach caithfear tabhairt orthu gníomhú ar shlí inbhuanaithe agus ar mhaithe le leas an phobail agus ní ar mhaithe le brabach amháin ag cur sláinte, cultúr agus oidhreacht s’againne i mbaol. Má tá sé maith go leor línte cumhachta i mBaile Átha Cliath a bheith faoi thalamh tá muidne ag lorg cothrom na Féinne agus ag iarraidh na seirbhíse céanna i nDún na nGall. Coinnigh cuimhne fiú dá gcuirfí an líne faoi thalamh chaithfí cúiteamh a íoc leis na húineoirí talaimh. Tá mórán dóigheanna le go leor cumhachta a ghiniúint do thithe cónaithe gan aon úsáid a bhaint as línte cumhachta. Ba chóir, dá bhrí sin, don Rialtas a bheith ag deonú tograí mionghiniúna, tuirbíní beaga d’úsáid baile, painéil ghréine agus tuirbíní srutháin in áit a bheith ag milleadh ár dtaobh tíre. Coinnigh cuimhne gur seo ábhar toghcháin agus ar an ábhar sin ba chóir duit brú a chur ar na hiarrthóirí áitiúla roimh an fhothoghchán i Dún na nGall Thiar Theas agus don chéad ollthoghchán eile le fáil amach cén taobh den sconsa lei. R-phóist DonegalATP.  The Planned Route of the 110kv high voltage Power Line in 2000 Links County Sligo: Safe Alternative for Electricity County Roscommon: Energy Matters Counties Meath and Louth: North-East Pylon Pressure County Cork: Cobh Anti-Pylon UK Radiological Protection Board Bristol University - Department of Radiation Physics Revolt (Rural England Versus Overhead Line Transmission) Power Line Facts - Studies linking power lines to childhood cancer |
The Story So Far... In May, 2000 Donegal County Council granted Planning Permission to the Electricity Supply Board (ESB) to erect a 110kv high voltage power line through 100km of West Donegal. The Donegal Alternative to Pylons Group (ATP), Coiste Timpeallachta Ghaoth Dobhair and members of the public, made submissions to An Bord Pleanála voicing their objections and an Oral Hearing was held in Dungloe in December, 2000. At the Oral Hearing it was established that the existing 38kv power line was sufficient for local needs and, that if extra power was needed at the Gweedore Industrial Estate, then a combined power and heat plant could be built there to facilitate this. It cost the campaigners 12 thousand pounds to bring electricity experts to Dungloe to help argue the case. On July 2nd, 2001 the Planning Board firmly rejected the ESB's proposals perusant to the Local Government (Planning and Development) Acts, 1963 to 1999. The Inspector’s Report stated that: ‘The route of the proposed line runs through many of the most scenic and unspoilt areas of the county and this development would give rise to significant effects on the environment, mainly on the visual amenities and ecology of these areas… and that the proposed development would materially contravene the county Development Plan’. The Inspector's Report concluded that: ‘The proposed development would therefore be likely to have significant effects in particular on the amenities and ecology of the area and consequently on the value of the area for Tourism… this development would seriously injure the amenities of the county, materially contravene the Development Plan and be contrary to the proper planning and development of the area’. In 2008 the ESB and Eirgrid jointly submitted an application for Planning Permission for a 110kv high voltage power line in Donegal. This time they proposed following the same route as their first application as far as Gweedore with an additional 23km from Glenties to Letterkenny via Meeniroy, making a total of 102km with planning for two new substations and a switching station. Alternatives to Pylons carried out a review of research on the adverse effects of Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR) and carona ion emissions from overhead power lines. This research reveals very worrying information, especially the research conducted by Prof. Denis Henshaw of the University of Bristol which reveals that children are 69% more likely to contract leukemia if living within one mile of a pylon. In 2006 the California Health Department Services cited five illnesses as related to increased exposure to high voltage power lines. These are: child and adult leukemia, brain cancer, Motor Neurone Disease and miscarriage. The health implications for humans and fauna alike, together with the scenic impact on the landscape would have devastating and long term implications for the local population, on Tourism and on farmers' livlihoods. Alternatives to Pylons, Coiste Timpeallachta Ghaoth Dobhair and the Gweebarra Conservation Group were among the objectors who made extensive presentations at an Oral Hearing into this power line which was held in Letterkenny in April, 2009. Ninety five per cent 95% of the submissions to the Planning Appeals Board did not support the development which proposed to cut through a 1000 landowners property and near 15,500 of homes. After listening to our arguments the Planning Inspectors decided that much of the route was too scenic for an overground power line and alternatives, in terms of route and the use of undergrounding, were recommended. However the Directors of the Planning Board overruled their own Inspector and granted Planning Permission for this power line in November, 2009. ESB and Eirgrid now plan to erect a standing army of 23 metre (60ft) high creosote (which is canger causing) soaked double wooden poles sets and steel pylons across 102 kilometres (63 miles) of our beautiful Donegal. The proposed route would go through some of the most scenic areas, from Binbane to Glenties and onto Gweedore via the Gweebarra River, Loughanure and Crolly to Gweedore and a second power line from Glenties to Letterkenny, up the Glen and on via Kingarrow and Meeniroy as well as building a new switching station outside Glenties and a new substation at Gweedore and another outside Letterkenny. ESB Networks and Eirgrid want to erect the high voltage line parallel to the existing 38kv line at a distance of 20-200 metres apart, making a sterile corridor through 100 townlands, ninety-seven of which are in the Donegal Gaeltacht. The affected townlands are Binbane, Meenacahan, Cloghervaddy, Meenagranoge, Meenybradden, Croagh, Meenadreen, Carrickstlieve Glebe, Monargan Glebe, Snugborough, Gortnacart Glebe, Corraness Glebe, Garvegort Glebe, Kilrean Lower, Kilrean Upper, Tullyard, Gortnamucklagh, Letterilly, Loughcrillan, Stranagloch, Meenalargan, Straboy, Shallogan More, Shallogan Beg, Drumnalough, Drumconcoose, Meenamalragh, Stracashel, Meenachuit, Clogher East, Meenanarwa, Boultypatrick, Lughveen, Montymeane, Stranagoppoge, Meenasrone North, Bellanamore, Meenmore East, Meenadoran, Tievedeevan, Kingarrow, Cummrick, Meenatinny, Meeniroy, Meenacung, Altinierin, Altadush, Tullyhonour, Treankeel, Meenadaura, Ballygallan, Drumenan, Killymasny, Cark, Lenalea, Kirkneedy, Ballystrang, Rareagh, Listack, Corravaddy, Stralongford, Glentilid, Dooballagh, Corranagh, Listellian, Ardnagappary, Meenderrygamph, Dore, Arduns, Crolly, Cronaguiggy, Meencorwick, Bunawack, Lettercau, Ardmeen, Crohyboyle, Crovehy, Craghy, Oughtmeen, Croaghnashallog, Meenleckanalore, Croghbolie, Drumlaghdrid, Meenacarn, Galwolie, Boyoughter, Cloghercor. The entire route runs through pristine blanket bog, across the Owenea and Gweebarra Rivers, both important salmon rivers, while the Clady River is home to the largest colony in Europe of the endangered freshwater mussel which takes two hundred years to come to maturity. The chosen route would necessitate moving heavy machinery across and excavating Special Areas of Conservation and important habitats protected under Irish and EU Law. The technology is there to duct this power line alongside existing roads for €80 million euro or less, only twice the cost of over grounding but the power companies want to run the lines across the wild boglands of Donegal so as to be near the hills just to facilitate wind farm developers. Make no mistake this power line is not to bring power into Donegal but to take it out from proposed industrial sized wind farms. Why should wind farm developers profit at the expense of those who live and holiday in Donegal? Donegal already produces more wind energy than any other county in Ireland (225MV) and there are plans to double the number of turbines in Donegal in the next two years. Donegal is generating ten times the amount of wind energy as in Wicklow or Mayo, for instance, even though those counties are just as windy as Donegal. The campaigners say there has to be some regulation of the wind energy industry if rural Donegal is to be saved from destruction. In other countries ‘the Polluter Pays’ and wind farmer companys are made pay to underground the power lines so that the pleasure and health of the many is not surrendered for the financial profit of a few. Wind energy cannot be called ‘green energy’ when it destroys the very environment it claims to be renewing. How can pouring thousands of tonnes of concrete on the top of hills to stabalise wind turbines be called ‘environmentally friendly’? It’s a con and people in Donegal need to wake up to the dangers, including landslides which have happened elsewhere in Ireland as a result of the ESB, and others, developing wind farms. Dublin people would laugh at the idea of putting giant wind turbines, taller than the Pike on O'Connell St in the Phoenix Park or in St. Stephen’s Green, yet the government plans to do this in the hills of Donegal which is just as precious a resource to the people of Donegal as the Phoenix Park is for Dublin's residents and visitors and the Donegal hills deserve to be protected too. In Roscommon and Sligo landowners have also refused access to ESB and Eirgrid for over ten years but in April, 2009 Judge Mary Laffoy delivered a High Court verdict that the ESB (but not Eirgrid) have the right to enter peoples' private property under the 1927 Rural Electrification Act. As Eirgrid is a new company, the 1927 Act does not apply to them, and people can still refuse access for the 110kv power line in Donegal as the project is a joint ESB and Eirgrid project. ESB and Eirgrid also have Planning Permission to erect High Voltage power lines in Galway, Sligo, Roscommon, Cavan, Monaghan and Kildare while they are seeking Planning Permisson for high voltage power lines in Meath and Louth. Similarily Counties Tyrone, Fermanagh and Armagh are threatened with high voltage power lines and ESB is one of the major stakeholders in the electricity and wind energy industry in the 6 counties. Now Donegal Alternatives to Pylons are working with anti-pylon groups in the above counties to take a case to the Irish Supreme Court to 'Save Our Scenery!' In addition to pylons and turbines the government has recently granted mining prospecting licenses in 50 townlands around Gweebarra Bay and in 100 townlands around Malin Head in Inishowen. If minerals or gold are found it would mean open cast mining using lakes as cyanide baths to extract the minerals. The water basin would be destroyed as well as the resultant loss of habitats, tourism revenue and property values in these areas. These government policies amount to the industrialisation of rural Donegal and the Gaeltacht, in particular, and we cannot allow that to happen. Donegal, its people and its language are not renewable. What are the long term economic implications of having high voltage power lines and wind turbines running over our hills and bogs? We need to see the big picture. Once a townland has pylons or turbines it is deemed to be of no scenic or monetary value by the County Council Planners and existing and potential utilities companies who see this as a green light to destroy a rural area ehtirely. This encourages more applications for planning for more turbines and more power lines to maintain the electricity grid as wind energy is not reliable or constant. The locals are then faced with putting up with the health dangers from the power lines and the constant noise and flickering light from the turbines or sell their homes and leave. But no-one will buy a house near high voltage power lines or within view of turbines except the wind turbine company, and this domino effect would lead to the devaluation of property in Donegal and the loss of existing and potential livlihoods in our infant tourism economy. Tourism is now Donegal's No. 1 employer and we could create many thousands of jobs in Donegal if we had micro-generation and each house, hotel and B&B had a mini wind turbine or water turbines and solar panels and collected our own rain water - we could then promote the County as a truly 'Green County'. We could duct broadband, gas, electricity and water via a utilities tunnel in the existing ditches alongside main roads, create a satellite WAN for small businesses and generate many 'Green' jobs now and into the future. The proposed route maps and Environmental Impact Statement can be seen at local Donegal County Council offices or at Donegal 110kv but be warned that the files on the website are largely pdf files and, for most Donegal people, these files are too large for their broadband capacity. The ESB’s proposals would grossly over-provide for the West of the County with a capacity of 126 MW to serve a demand of around 10 MW. Even when the factorys were full of workers in Gweedore the highest demand was for 16MW and not 126MW as is presently proposed. The Danes, world leaders in wind generation with 20% of their electricity supply from windfarms, are now in the position of having to buy back electricity from Germany rather than selling it such is the inconsistency of wind power generation. Other small countries like Belgium, the Netherlands and Denmark now put all power lines underground while the local Council on the Isle of Mull in Scotland have declared the island a wind farm free zone as they realise that such developments would ruin their tourism industry. Rural Donegal has not received any of the benefits of the Celtic Tiger so why, therefore, should we have the worst elements? If undergrounding is good enough for Dublin and for other Irish cities why should the Donegal countryside be any different? The ATP group is made up of a cross section of Donegal society, people who are entitled to a quality electricity supply but who demand that one of the prime assets of our County, the unspoilt scenic beauty, is not sacrificed in the process!  The Proposed ESB Route of 110kv overhead Power Lines through Donegal 2010 This issue is not unique to Donegal or Ireland, but one that has been under scrutiny around the world for many years. Research carried out in the U.S.A, New Zealand, the UK and other European countries, most notably Sweden and Denmark, all suggest that there may be an increased risk in cancer rates among people who live close to electricity power lines. This is particularly significant for children, where studies have reported that those living close to some types of power lines have higher than average rates of leukemia, brain cancer and cancers in general. Further studies also suggest increases in asthma, immune-related illness and psychological problems, particularly depression, among the population in general. Furthermore, there is evidence to suggest that burying transmission lines can substantially reduce their magnetic fields because they are generally insulated with rubber or plastic, this in turn would reduce the health risks. The ESB have rejected the underground option because of the increased cost but what price is our health worth? If you would like further information email DonegalATP@gmail.com. If you wish to help by making a donation to the Appeal fund you can send a cheque or postal order to: ATP GROUP, Account no. 82529441, Bank of Ireland, Dungloe, County Donegal, Ireland. |