Clare County Council grants permission for wind farm grid connection works at Booltiagh & Glenmore, Co. Clare

In context

It is one of 4 wind energy applications Clare County Council has received in the past twelve months, against 61 nationally. Of the 85 such applications decided by councils in the past three years, 74% were granted.

What happens next

The applicant, or anyone who made a submission on the application, can appeal the decision to An Coimisiún Pleanála within four weeks of 10 July 2024. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues.

The development description, as lodged

Verbatim from the Clare County Council register. This is the source for every figure in the story above.

is sought for the continued operation of the existing Booltiagh Wind Farm as permitted by An Bord Pleanala Ref: 03.120616 (Clare County Council Pl. Ref: 00/567) for a further period of 10 years from the date of the expiry of the current planning permission (30th September 2025) per Condition no. 2 of the consent issued and for the decommissioning of the wind farm at the end of that further period. The proposed development development does not comprise any modifications to the existing operational wind farm. The proposed development comprises: a) 12 no. existing GE Energy 1.5 Megawatt (MW) wind turbines with a maximum overall blade tip height of 90 metres (m) including hardstands; b) Existing site access tracks and car parking spaces; c) all existing associated underground electrical and communications cabling connecting the turbines to onsite substation (onsite substation consented under ABP 03.120616, amended and made permanent under Pl. Ref: 11/34, and amended under ABP 03.245273; d) Existing gated site entrance from Creegh - Kilmaley local road; e) Existing site drainage; f) All existing ancillary infrastructure, associated site fencing and signage; and g) Implementation of a decommissioning plan. All elements of the wind farm are pre-existing and it is not proposed to make any alterations to the current site layout, wind turbines or associated infrastructure as part of this application. an Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) accompanies the planning application