Editorial: Government must act on new wind guidelines - Kilkenny Live

Communities in Kilkenny are calling on the Government to hurry along and update the guidelines around the planning process for proposed windfarms in their areas.

A notice of motion is due to be put to members of Kilkenny County Council at next week’s June plenary meeting, as part of a nationwide campaign. The motion claims to speak on behalf of over a dozen local communities.

These groups are calling on local councillors to write to the Minister responsible, urgently requesting the publication of updated Wind Energy Development Guidelines. They say that the current guidelines, from 2006, are no longer fit for purpose, with further draft guidelines issued in 2019.

The groups involved also say that as a result of the uncertainty caused by the absence of an up-to-date national regulations, the Minister should introduce a temporary pause on all large-scale onshore wind farm developments.

They feel the regulations of the sector are hopelessly out of date, and want to see renewable energy developments proceed in a manner ‘appropriately planned, environmentally sustainable’, and that respects people’s rights.

Last year, then-Taoiseach Simon Harris promised that new planning guidelines for wind farms will be introduced by the end of the year. He said he believed in increasing wind energy, but it must be done in a way that brings communities along. The time is now to act on this, allay people’s concerns, and engege with both the industry and those potentially affected by new developments. It shouldn’t be let drag on any further.
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SPORTING JOY
Sports fans have plenty of reason to be smiling after another great weekend for Kilkenny across multiple disciplines.
Equestrian delight in France was well worth celebrating, while the camogie ladies got back to winning ways against Dublin.
To top it all off, the senior hurlers won a well-deserved sixth Leinster title on the trot on Sunday. Kilkenny abú.
READ: PAUL MURPHY SHARES HIS THOUGHTS ON THE LEINSTER FINAL