Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley is putting forward a Wind Turbine Regulation Bill this week for debate in the Dáil which has provision for greater community involvement in wind farm development.
Deputy Stanley said: “This Bill provides greater protection for rural communities and greater community consultation on proposals to construct wind farms.
“It includes Regulations for a minimum setback distance of 10 times the height of the turbine blade tip.
“It will also protect homes from noise and shadow flicker and limits the exportation of electricity from wind turbines so that the electricity generated stays within the state.
“Wind turbine developers would also have to provide local residents the opportunity to purchase up to 20% of a stake in the development and a bond put in place to ensure payment is made for the repair of local infrastructure such as roads and water services.
“To ensure local democracy, wind turbines can only be located in areas designated by local councillors in the County Development Plan.
“6 Ministers and 2 Governments have failed to address this issue and developers want to cover Laois and Offaly in monstrous wind turbines.”
Deputy Stanley concluded: “In the push for renewable energy, rural Ireland plays a key and vital part in its development, but rural communities need to be respected.
“Wind is only part of the solution but we also have to diversify our renewable energy sources such as biogas, biomass and solar.
“These will help reduce our greenhouse gas emissions but will also create employment that is badly needed in rural Ireland.
“In the meantime it is vital that the construction of giant wind turbines is properly regulated and that is what this Bill sets out to do.
“This is an opportunity for Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael , Labour and Independents to get off the fence once and for all.”
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