Energy strategy proves divisive

A new renewable energy strategy by Kerry County Council is causing deep divisions in the Inny Valley, near Waterville, a meeting has heard.

However, the council adopted a strategy that 5,000 hectares there be zoned “open to consideration” for green energy projects.

This marked a U-turn by the council, which last July voted that the valley, on the Ring of Kerry tourist route, was “unsuitable for wind development”.

Since then, however, local councillors have been lobbied by windfarm developers and landowners in the valley, 25 of whom made a submission to the council that the valley be open to consideration for planning applications. Some of the developers and landowners, as well as objecting residents, were in the public gallery for yesterday’s meeting. Scores of objectors, including residents, An Taisce and the Waterville Fisheries Development Group, made submissions.

Council director of planning Michael McMahon said the purpose of the strategy was to provide direction to developers and others on how renewable energy, in its many forms, should be developed in Kerry. He said there had already been substantial windfarm development in Kerry, which was producing 14% of the country’s renewable energy. Also, about 50% of the projects granted planning permission had not yet been built.

During a lengthy debate, a number of local councillors said they ‘could not win’ no matter what stand they took in relation to the Inny Valley, but the majority favoured having the area open to consideration for windfarms. Fine Gael councillor PJ Donovan and Fianna Fáil’s Paul O’Donoghue supported such an approach, but asked that turbines be kept a sufficient distance from houses so as not to disturb the lives of residents.

Meanwhile, despite warnings that the Ballyheigue area, in north Kerry, was proposed for inclusion in the Wild Atlantic Way and that windfarms would degrade the scenic landscape, councillors voted to make the area open to consideration for windfarms. The council adopted the strategy which will be incorporated in the County Development Plan, to run until 2015.