‘Very lengthy planning delays’ for wind farms ‘single biggest factor’ in achieving climate goals

'Our planning system must be urgently reformed and properly resourced to ensure that the renewable energy projects needed to cut our carbon emissions and drive down electricity bills can get built as quickly as possible.' Picture: Denis Minihane.

“Very lengthy delays” in the planning system are “probably the single biggest factor” in deciding whether Ireland hits its climate targets, a representative body for the Irish wind industry has claimed.

An Bord Pleanála routinely forgoes its statutory obligation to decide on applications for wind energy projects within 18 weeks, according to Wind Energy Ireland (WEI), instead taking 50-60 weeks on average to make a decision.