Residents lose battle to block solar project

A CORK action group has lost its fight to block a solar farm in its area.

‘We are not against green energy,’ said Aoife Carlin, who leads the group of Kinsale residents, ‘we’re for it like most sensible people. But you can’t just unleash these solar farms on the country, with no planning, no foresight and no long-term view.’

Despite the group’s objections – and a Bord Pleanála inspector advising against the development near the pretty tourist town – the appeal against the granting of planning permission was turned down last month. Ms Carlin said the emerging industry needs regulation, adding that more than 100 applications for solar developments of 50-plus acres have been submitted nationwide.

‘Despite the obvious expansion of the sector, the Department of Planning is not only failing to plan for the development of a solar industry in Ireland, but failing to even acknowledge the need for legislative change,’ she added.

Speaking in the Dáil recently, Housing Minister Simon Coveney said that while there are no specific guidelines in respect of solar farms, proposals for individual developments are subject to the Planning and Development Act 2000.

‘The planning code is sufficiently robust to facilitate the assessment of individual planning permission applications for solar farm developments,’ he said.

However, Cork councillor Kevin Murphy – who has campaigned for the introduction of planning guidelines around solar farms – said the minister’s attitude is disingenuous.

‘It’s simply not good enough to say existing legislation will do for solar farms. In every other country with solar farms they have guidelines specifically to deal with them. The very least we should have is buffer zones between the farms and residential properties. Also, I believe there could be an issue with run-off or flooding associated with these farms.’

While BNRG Renewables CEO David Maguire sympathises with residents’ concerns, he said the country is heading for ‘environmental catastrophe unless we do something to lessen CO2 emissions’.

He and his industry are seeking Government subsidies so they can expand at an even faster pace.