Fury over delays in considering proposed wind energy strategy amendments in Kilkenny

Councillor Mary Hilda Cavanagh has slammed the governmental delays in considering amendments proposed by Kilkenny County Council in relation to the county’s wind energy strategy/policy.

She raised the issue during the most recent full meeting of elected members of Kilkenny County Council.

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Speaking afterward to the Kilkenny People, Cllr Cavanagh said that ‘current guidelines are not in step with the size of modern wind turbines’.

As Kilkenny’s wind energy strategy has been suspended, pending the outcome of the draft direction issued by the then Minister of State at the Department of Housing in October 2021, all planning applications for wind farm developments of less than 50 megawatts in scale must be considered by Kilkenny County Council on a case by case basis, by reference to national policy and ministerial guidelines.

Wind farm developments of greater than 50 megawatts in scale are classified in legislation as strategic infrastructure developments and planning applications must be made directly to An Bord Pleanála.

The council have no decision making role in such large scale wind farm developments.

The elected members have asked the Chief Executive of the Council to bring forward a variation to amend the City & County Development Plan so that ‘large-scale wind energy developments will, in usual circumstances, only be considered where the nearest turbine is greater than 3km from an urban centre’.

The current Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Deputy Kieran O’Donnell, has gone on the record to state that ‘no statutory timeline is applicable to a decision in respect of a final direction in this case and the matter remains under active consideration in light of policy developments in this area’.

The elected members believe their proposed wording ‘encourages community engagement where it is most needed’.

“We would like to reiterate that we encourage wind energy developments in a responsible and cohesive manner, and only wish to ensure they are developed in collaboration with the community, rather than rejected,” the local authority added.

“This will ensure positive, local support for developments, reducing costs, planning objections, and project delays, and ultimately help achieve our climate targets.”