Nolan calls for pause on wind energy projects until guidelines published

Independent TD for Offaly Carol Nolan has called for a pause on all wind energy developments until the revised Wind Energy Development Guidelines are published.

The Independent Deputy was speaking ahead of a planned protest by the Lemanaghan Bog Heritage and Conservation Group that is due to take place outside of Offaly County Council later today.

Deputy Nolan has actively supported the group's campaign for the preservation of the bog and has opposed the development of wind turbines at the site which is of key archaeological and historical significance.

“The fact that the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines remain in force, pending the finalisation of the review which has been ongoing 2016 is nothing short of farcical and indeed borderline contemptuous of communities who have clearly expressed the gross inadequacies of the current regulatory regime.

“That is why I am calling for a halt to all wind energy and wind turbine developments until we have sight of the new Guidelines. It is simply not acceptable that turbine developments can still get the green light under a system that everyone accepts is not fit for purpose.

“I have raised this matter repeatedly through parliamentary questions, most recently to the Minister for the Environment, Darragh O’Brien, when I asked him if he would provide information regarding reports on wind turbine noise. I also called on him clarify his support for increased protections for persons adversely affected by wind turbine noise.

“Rather astonishingly he admitted to me that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has not commissioned any wind turbine modelling reports and that the only report the SEAI has published specifically on the subject of Wind Turbine Noise is 'Examination of the Significance of Noise in relation to Onshore Wind Farms' provided by Marshall Day Acoustics in November 2013.

“Everything at Government level about wind and wind turbines appears to be shrouded in delay and an attitude of keeping communities at a distance. That is not acceptable for Lemanaghan, for Offaly or for anywhere else for that matter.

“That is why I am calling for a pause in all developments until communities know what exactly we are dealing with in terms of the new regulatory model that the revised guidelines will adopt,” Deputy Nolan said.