Laois County Councillors have once again voted to not to allow any part of the county be zoned for wind turbines.
The Councillors previously did so in March of this year, but, at yesterday’s County Council meeting, the County Development Plan contained a map which had areas that were designated for wind farm development on it.
This was contrary to what the Councillors had previously voted and Cllr David Goodwin proposed that the adoption of the County Development Plan 2017-2023 be postponed altogether until further discussions had taken place.
However, Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley put forward a counter proposal that the meeting be adjourned for 15 minutes to allow Councillors to discuss the matter in private before coming back and voting on whether to accept the new map with zones or retain the old map with no zones.
She won that vote by 10 to 7 and after the 15 minute break, the Councillors returned to the chamber where the second vote took place.
The Councillors voted by 9 to 8 to reject the map which contained land zoned for wind turbine development and make the county wind free – two Councillors, James Kelly and Noel Tuohy were absent.
The map was proposed by Mr John Mulholland, Chief Executive.
The CEO warned the councillors in advance to adopt his proposal. They had rejected the proposal earlier this year.
He said: “If members proceed, it means Laois County Council is making a decision that it does not support wind energy.
“This is against Government policy. My advice is there should be some zoning.”
A copy of the new county development plan now goes to the Environment Minister.
The CEO told Councillors: “You must now furnish me with a sustainable argument, reasons why the report was not accepted.”
A number of wind turbine companies challenged the ban on zoning for turbines.
The meeting also heard a number of submissions from wind energy companies who claimed the Council could be leaving itself open to legal challenges.
They also argued that the Councillors had failed to give ‘coherent scientific reasons’ for the ban.
This decision is in direct conflict with the government’s position on renewable energy and the fear now exists that the Department may take over and zone whatever part of Laois that they like for wind development.
But Cllr Ben Brennan says that the days of politics by fear are over.
He said: “We have to stand by our constitutions and abide by their wishes. The people in my area have made it clear they don’t want wind turbines.”
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