Press Release: Environment  29 June 2006

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Green Party says Wind Energy Guidelines Inadequate

The Green Party has expressed concern that the Wind Energy Guidelines published today may allow economic concerns to override the protection of natural heritage.

Green Party Environment spokesperson Ciarán Cuffe TD said, "These guidelines set a dangerous precedent in allowing the public interest including the economic interest to override environmental concerns.

"Of course we welcome guidance in this area, but the Minister appears to be opening the door to planning applications for wind farms in even the most sensitive locations. 

"Special Protected Areas (SPAs), candidate Special Areas of Conservation and Special Areas of Conservations (SACs) are of international importance, and form part of the EU Natura 2000 Network. However the Minister is suggesting that the public interest may be of greater importance. This may put certain bird species and other vulnerable habitats at risk. It may also clash with European Law in the form of the Birds and the Habitats Directives.
 
"On page 24 of the Guidelines it is stated:


'…In circumstances where a wind energy project is likely to have an

adverse effect on the integrity of a site of international importance

for nature conservation (e.g., an SAC or SPA), planning permission

should only be granted where there is no alternative solution and

where there are imperative reasons of overriding public interest,

including those of a social or economic nature. Mitigation measures

to negate the negative impacts will have to be considered, or the

provision of compensatory sites.'

"We would have preferred to see a ban on wind turbines in certain designated areas nationwide such as the habitats of vulnerable flora and fauna or high amenity areas.

"Under the guidelines nowhere is completely ruled out from the prospect of applications for wind turbines. It would have been better to have specifically excluded wind turbines from certain designated areas.