MEP plans windfarm meeting

The huge attendance at the meeting in Mullingar where strong opposition to the proposed midlands wind energy development was expressed indicated the need for extensive debate on the issue, says MEP Marian Harkin.

She is urging anybody with an interest in the wind energy proposal for the midlands to attend the public meeting she is organising at the Athlone Springs Hotel on Monday August 12 at 7pm.

“I am organising this meeting because of the huge public interest surrounding current proposals in regard to siting windfarms across the midlands,” said Ms Harkin.

“While the planning decisions taken about windfarms will be made at a national level, there is a European perspective and crucially we need to learn from what has happened in other countries. In this context I am pleased that a colleague of mine from the European Parliament Struan Stevenson MEP has agreed to address this meeting.

“Struan has studied the wind energy sector in great detail and his informed views at the meeting should help the debate having regard to his knowledge of windfarm development particularly in the UK and Scotland.

“Andrew Duncan, the spokesperson for the Lakeland Wind Farm Information Group and one of the spokespersons for the Midlands Alliance, will also address the meeting, as will Michael Keane from Roscommon, who will speak of the devastating effect that living beside a windfarm has had on his life and that of his family. A number of national politicians also plan to attend and will update the meeting on the most recent developments in regard to the government response on the issue.

“My overall view is that our energy sources need to be sustainable from an environmental, social and economic perspective. In regard to wind energy the debate on economic sustainability is ongoing but a crucial element is the siting of wind turbines. In my opinion we need legislative provisions in regard to minimum distance from homes, schools.

“If we have clear provisions in place regarding the siting and the size of wind turbines then people’s quality of life can be maintained and hopefully we can avoid the splitting of communities and even families that have occurred elsewhere in Ireland.

“We need sustainable energy sources that will not unduly interfere with or destroy people’s rights to a basic quality of life and enjoyment of their own homes and we must manage both of these objectives in whatever development takes place in the midlands.”