The scene of the turbine crash. donegaldaily.com
ONE of the shareholders in a controversial wind farm has defended the use of turbines for creating power and jobs.
But in an interview with the Irish Times newspaper, John Gillespie does not discuss the recent accident where one of his nine turbines collapsed to the ground.
Mr Gillespie is a major shareholder in the Loughderryduff windfarm near Maas – between Glenties and Ardara.
“There’s money in windfarms, but the payback isn’t for eight to 10 years,” he told Saturday’s newspaper.
“Windfarms are long-term investments, and replacement of major components is a big expense.”
“Turbines must contribute significantly to Donegal’s income, through rates,” he says. “We pay €60,000 a year in local government rates.”
Gillespie said of the proposed plans to build a cluster of windfarms in the midlands: “I think it’s very ambitious. It’s big by any standards. But, subject to planning, it will create a substantial amount of employment in construction. Planning is very onerous now, but wind is a natural resource and it would be folly of us not to make use of it.”
He likened his windfarm to a traditional farm, with the only difference being the harvest is energy. “If it goes ahead, the farmers in the midlands will get a very nice guaranteed annual income.”