Windfarm plan aired for Ecos & Showgrounds

Revealing initial details of the plan to councillors at their latest monthly meeting, last Monday night, the local authority’s Chief Executive Anne Donaghy said that should the proposal be realised it would not only help reduce the borough’s carbon footprint but had the potential to produce income for council of around 80,000 per annum.

The plan includes the erection of three 3megawatt windmills in Ecos with each one set out per 30acres.

The windmills, which would be 90 metres in height and located on a nine metre diameter base, would have a nine megawatt green energy output. - This would provide Council with an estimated 9,000 per megawatt per year or 3-3.5% of the gross energy generated.

Councillors also heard that the scheme would involve a 10m infrastructure development.

They subsequently gave unanimous permission for Council officers to “test the market for expressions of interest” in the scheme and also permission to progress the proposals with a maximum of 5,000 expenditure to be funded from Council’s Development Budget.