21/01/2013

Bill 'Could Hinder' Wind Industry

The Irish Wind Energy Association has said a Private Members Bill to locate wind farms further from people’s homes would leave just 3 per cent of the State’s land area available for development.

The Bill proposed by Willie Penrose TD (Labour), “could hinder our ability to meet ambitious but necessary and legally binding EU renewable energy and climate change commitments,” according to the association.

Speaking to the Lakelands Wind Farm Information Group in Mullingar, Co Westmeath, the Irish Independent reported Mr Penrose as saying his Bill would address issues of noise and “shadow flicker” from wind turbines in the interest of public health.

Adding: “I appreciate that wind energy has a contribution to make, but the issue is where it’s located.

“There are huge tracts of cut-away bog in the midlands that could be an ideal location for wind turbines.”

Achieving wind energy targets “can’t be done by trampling on people – there has to be a sense of balance and fairness”, he said. “I’m looking to get this Bill on to the floor of the Dáil to get a debate on it. That would be a very important starting point.”

(H)


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