An Bord Pleanala have refused planning permission to construct a wind farm near the Laois-Kildare border.
Ummeras Wind Farm Ltd (Statkraft) proposed to build five 169m high turbines in an area between Monasterevin and Rathangan on the border.
Kildare County Council refused permission back in March due to concerns about an Air Corps flight path as well as ecological and road network issues.
The company behind the wind farm appealed this decision but it has also been turned down by An Bord Pleanala.
Fianna Fail’s Fiona O’Loughlin, who hails from Rathangan, welcomed the decision.
Senator O’Loughlin said: ”Today’s decision by An Bord Pleanala is the right one.
“As I pointed out In my own submission, the significant importance of the Ummeras area for our biodiversity.
“It is an area that is renowned for its curlews, lapwings and hen harriers, and I was concerned that the construction of such a wind farm would negatively impact the biodiversity in the area.
“I fully support our moves to a green economy, and I absolutely respect the need for us to develop our green energy infrastructure, but it needs to be done appropriately, and the Ummeras site was never the right place for a wind farm of such magnitude.
“Carbon emissions and climate change are of huge concern to us all, we need to be serious and take actions that will tackle climate change.
“But we also need to protect our bio diversity and we need to ensure that we can re wet Ummeras bog also, and these turbines would put that at risk, as well as the proposals for the Umeras heritage park.
“Wind energy is vital for our future economy, and we have seen great initiatives in the area such as the offshore proposals at money point, and that’s the future in my opinion.
“I am pleased with An Bord Pleanala’s decision, and I want to pay tribute to the local residents for their courteous and professional opposition. Protecting our communities and our biodiversity is key.”
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