Communities in Tipperary are in fear of impact renewable energy projects
There have been calls for the immediate pausing of any progress on green energy initiatives in Tipperary until regulations have been published by the Government.
The call was made by Thurles councillor Jim Ryan at the July meeting of Tipperary County Council, who said there was a lot of fear amongst communities across Tipperary who have seen sites earmarked for wind farms, solar farms or biomethane gas plants.
Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Ryan said that while everyone is in favour of more sustainable forms of energy, more clarity was needed from the Government on suitable sites for such facilities.
"Nobody is against being green or being renewable but there’s a lot of fear out there, there’s communities who are genuinely concerned what the impact of solar farms, wind farms or biomethane facilities are going to have for future generations within their communities,” Cllr Ryan said.
"Due to the fact that there’s currently no national guidelines and regulations in relation to this particular industry, we need to call out the Government and introduce it because at the moment it would seem to me that it’s a free for all, there is planning permission being granted by Tipperary County Council, An Coimisiún Pleanála, and other councils around the country,” the Thurles councillor said.
Last week, An Coimisiún Pleanála (formerly An Bord Pleanala) overturned a ruling by Tipperary County Council and granted planning permission for a seven turbine wind farm on land on the Tipperary/Offaly border.
Developments such as these should be paused until there is national policy on the subject, according to Cllr Ryan, who proposed a notice of motion that Tipperary County Council write to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to urgently request that national guidelines be drawn up.
Currently, Ireland has set a target of achieving 80% of electricity being renewable by 2030.
"How far are we going to go with this? Are we just going to keep granting planning permission after planning permission without knowing the full facts of the affects these facilities are going to have on future generations?” Cllr Ryan hit out.
Seconding Cllr Ryan’s motion, Cllr Seamie Morris said that communities have had to educate themselves on what a proposed development means for their area.
"There’s fear out there, and the fact that there’s no national policy for this is disgraceful, to be honest, communities feel that they have to stand up for themselves, that they have to spend a massive amount of money to try and get themselves ready to try and take on potential planning applications, and I think all projects should be paused until such time as there is national policy on these projects,” Cllr Morris said.
"There’s a lot out there about protecting the environment, but we have to protect communities too,” Cllr Morris added.
Also agreeing with Cllr Ryan’s motion was councillor Michéal Lowry.
“We do need guidance in terms of regulations, and I suppose it’s probably more difficult for Tipperary because we’ve positioned ourselves over the last number of years to the forefront of a lot of this renewable and emerging technology,” Cllr Lowry said.
The motion was passed, and a letter will now be sent to the department.