Some Co Tipperary landowners could make thousands of pounds from a proposed wind farm with the capacity to generate electricity for 15,000 homes.
The wind farm, proposed for Cappawhite, is expected to be operational by 2003.
DP Energy Ltd, a Cork-based "green" energy manufacturer, is planning a 20-megawatt wind farm with 15 to 20 turbines on hills at Cappawhite. Individual turbines are expected to be 50 to 60 metres high, with rotor blades 50 to 60 metres wide.
DP Energy is currently negotiating with landowners to rent land to place its turbines on. Farmers could make as much as £4,000 per annum for each turbine on their land.
"Land rental is based on gross revenue. We pay 2 per cent up to 3.5 per cent or 4 per cent depending on the gross revenue. This is about £3,000 to £4,000 per annum," said Mr Simon De Pietro, a spokesman for DP Energy.
The company is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement. Following this, it aims to lodge a planning application with South Tipperary County Council by early summer.
Individual turbines will be linked with underground cables. Power generated at the farm will be transferred to the national electrical grid via a connection located about seven kilometres away.
Electricity generated at the farm would help reduce tonnes of "greenhouse gases" and other pollutants produced by fossil-fuelled power stations. Mr De Pietro said the annual savings for a wind farm, in comparison to fossil-fuelled power stations, are reductions in carbon-dioxide (42,000 tonnes to 64,400 tonnes), sulphur-dioxide (600 tonnes to 960 tonnes) and nitrogen-oxides (200 tonnes to 320 tonnes).
DP Energy has developed similar sites in Co Tyrone and Co Leitrim. The company also operates wind stations in the US and has been monitoring sites in Scotland, England and Portugal.
"We are currently monitoring a number of other sites around Ireland in both coastal and upland areas and are pursuing several of these through planning" said Mr De Pietro.
DP Energy has applied for planning permission for a smaller wind farm at Carrhue, Dundrum, Co Tipperary. Mr Tom English, who lives 400 metres away from this proposed development, said: "I am not against the idea but I have reservations. My concerns are that DP Energy has admitted there is atmospheric interference associated with the turbines. It interferes with land-line phones, TVs, mobile phones and electrical appliances in general".
However, Mr De Pietro said: "With a turbine rotor you can get a flicker on your TV. These problems are easy to fix."