PLAN to build a major wind farm at a cost of up to €250 million in the Atlantic Ocean – nine miles west of Connemara – has taken a massive step forward this week.

The Environmental Report relating to the project has been put on display at four libraries in Connemara and the Aran Islands.

This report which contains hundreds of pages and diagrams forms a major part of the application for permission to develop the wind farm at the Sceirde Rocks nine miles west of Carna.

The Fuinneamh Sceirde Teo group with shareholders in Connemara are looking for permission to develop a wind farm on the Sceirde Rocks that could give power to 75,000 houses.

This would entail the construction of 20 turbines reaching up to 80 metres into the air. It is now estimated that the total cost of developing the project would be in excess of €250m.

While there were many sceptics when the company first embarked on the Sceirde project some years ago- because of the rough seas and isolated location - the plan is now getting to an advanced stage.

“If everything worked out as...