DON QUIXOTE is famous for tilting at windmills, but residents in some of Ireland’s premier beauty spots are hoping to make more impact as they battle against the construction of 400ft wind turbines they claim are destroying the countryside.

A group of 450 people from 11 counties met in Cashel last week to establish a national committee to campaign against wind farms, driven to action by claims that they create low- frequency noise, destroy natural habitats and interfere with television reception. A second meeting at Ahenny drew 550.

“Our right to object through the planning process has been eroded by new guidelines allowing wind farms to be fast-tracked by local councils, even in special areas of conservation,” said Peter Crossan, a spokesman for a new anti-wind farm committee.

Groups from Cavan, Cork, Clare, Donegal, Galway, Kerry, Leitrim, Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford have joined forces and plan to run anti-wind farm candidates in Cork, as well as Tipperary North and South, in next year’s general election.

Despite being touted as an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional energy, the anti-wind farm lobby disputes the efficacy of turbines. “Wind is unpredictable and turbines only produce 20% of their capacity,” said Crossan. “We’re in favour of green solutions, but wind energy is not the answer.”

The protesters claim that wave and biomass energy are more efficient and that wind- farm pioneers such as Denmark are now scaling down their turbine construction. “Wind-farm operators are using the spectre of nuclear fuel to bully us into accepting an unreliable, inefficient energy source,” Crossan said.

The only research into the public attitudes towards wind farms was a survey published by Sustainable Energy Ireland in December 2003, shortly after the “bogalanche” at Derrybrien, Co Galway, which was found to have been caused by the siting of a wind farm on a peat bog.

While 80% of people were in favour of increased wind farm construction, those living adjacent to the sites had other concerns. Some 12% of those close to wind farms believed they devalued their property while 18% said they damaged the scenic beauty in their area.

The survey also found that only 55% of people knew that planning permission for a wind farm had been sought in their area prior to construction.

The protest group’s claims cut no ice with the Irish Wind Energy Association, which argues that there is no medium-term alternative to wind energy. “Wave and biomass technologies simply aren’t ready to implement yet,” said Paddy Teahon, a spokesman for the association. “Wind reduces CO2 emissions, guarantees security of supply and the technology is improving all the time. Turbines may be getting bigger but they’re also getting quieter and more efficient. By 2020, they will be producing 35% of our energy needs.”

There are now almost 40 wind farms around the country with dozens more coming before local authority planners for decision every week. The new Kilgarvan TV Action Committee in Kerry was formed to protest at the loss of television reception in the area following the construction of a wind farm.

“When the rest of Munster was glued to the Heineken Cup, we were watching a snowy screen,” said Tom Randles, a spokesman for the committee. “We have now decided not to pay our television licences until the situation is resolved.”

RTE believes the polluter should pay. “If wind farm operators are causing a problem with TV reception, then they will have to deal with it,” said Mick Kehoe, an executive director with RTE. “Construction of wind farms is totally outside RTE’s control.”

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