Cold water poured on Moy generator idea

Cold water poured on Moy generator proposal


Anton McNulty
antonmcnulty@mayonews.ie

The location of a water turbine in the River Moy to generate electricity and reduce the energy costs of the town is unlikely to ever happen, Ballina town councillors were told.
The idea of locating a turbine to generate 24KW of energy in the River Moy was raised at last week’s budget meeting by Fine Gael’s Cllr Barry McLoughlin who felt it would be an effective way of reducing energy costs.
However, the Town Manager, Paul Benson poured cold water on the idea saying that the river was a Special Area of Conservation  and would require a huge environmental study and anything to do with the river would be difficult.
Cllr McLoughlin acknowledged it would never happen because people would be afraid it would affect the river but added that three mills were located on the river and they affected the salmon or angling.
Ballina Town Council pay €100,000 per year on the local swimming pool despite having reduced their energy costs in recent years and also pay €90,000 on public lighting. Cllr McLoughlin said power generated from the river would power all the lights in the town for a year and reduce the budget cost.
His idea was supported by Cllr Mary Kelly who said she researched the matter in the past and found that it could cut costs by 60 per cent. She said she brought the idea to the previous Manager who was supportive but never got the support of Mayo County Council.
Cllr Kelly said it was a shame the people in power did not take the idea on board ten years ago and felt it was worth looking at.
Fine Gael councillor Josie Egan expressed her opposition to the idea saying the blades chop the smelt which became salmon and the river and salmon were the finance of the town.

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