Donegal Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Wind energy can be "Donegal's gold"- Cllr Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Published: 8 February, 2010

Wind energy can be "Donegal's gold"- Cllr Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

"Communities need to see more financial benefits from wind farms"

Sinn Féin Donegal County Councillor, Pádraig Mac Lochlainn has called for a more flexible approach to the planning process for wind farms in Donegal and for the Government to finance start up costs for community/ not for profit wind farms in the county to ensure that local communities realise more benefits from what is being referred to as "Donegal's gold".

He was speaking after his motion to that effect before Donegal County Council was successfully passed.

Cllr Mac Lochlainn said:

"Recently a presentation from Letterkenny Institute of Technology (LYIT) came before Donegal Enterprise Board, promoting the concept of a National Wind Academy in the county. The presentation informed us that Donegal has the most optimum wind speeds in Europe and that the potential for wind energy in the county makes it "Donegal's gold".

"At present, the blanket designation of large areas of our landscape as "Especially High Scenic Amenities" in the County Development Plan severely curtails the potential of this natural resource. While we need to protect our scenic areas, a balance must be struck to facilitate the full potential of wind energy"

"Most importantly, local communities have not enjoyed the financial benefits of wind energy across the county and that has to change. Today, Donegal County Council have written to the Minister for the Environment, John Gormley requesting that the Government make available a special loan or grant aid fund to facilitate the development of community owned/ not for profit wind farms in the county. This has the potential to provide an injection of badly needed financial resources into local communities across the county".

ENDS