Implementing Renewable Energy Policy at Local Authority Level.

Gerry SheeranLimerick County Council

Issues to be covered

Delivering a Sustainable Energy Future for Ireland

Regional Strategy and Regional Planning

Guidelines

Renewable Energy and Development Plan Policies

Balance between promoting Renewable Energy and

Environmental Protection

Overview of period 2007-2020

Addressing climate change by reduction of greenhouse gas emissionsPromoting growth of renewable energy sources Integrated process of sustainable development and use of bio-energy resourcesAccelerating energy research development and innovation programmes in support of sustainable energy goalsThe importance of security of energy supply and the advantages of home-grown renewable energies over imported energies42% of electricity generated from renewables by 202020% reduction in greenhouse gas by 2020 – EU targetLimerick Clare Energy Agency – quantifies the need to reduce energy consumption and to produce energy from renewable resources

Delivering a Sustainable Energy Future for Ireland

Region has a substantial renewable energy resource, wave, wind, hydro and bio-fuelsConsistent approach needs to be taken with management of wind power at regional levelFavourable consideration for renewable energy subject to environmental and social impactsImpact of development on the landscapeGrid connectionsCDPs should identify suitable areas for different forms of renewable energies Guidelines need to be developed on inter-county and regional basis

Mid-West Regional Strategy and Regional Planning Guidelines

Renewable Energy in Development Plansin the Mid-West Region

All of the plans take a positive approach subject to some caveatsFor example, Limerick County Development Plan states:Renewable energy developments have specific Land Use issues..It is the role of the Planning Authority to reconcile these with proper planning and sustainable development”

The Planning Authority will adopt a positive approach to renewable energy and the following to be taken into account:

Environmental and Social Impacts of the DevelopmentsLandscape Impact of the Development Connection to the National grid.Mitigation measures where impacts are inevitable Protected Areas: NHAs SPAs, SACs, Archaeological or scenic designations

Mullaghareirks upland heath and bogSPA area for harriers andupland peat habitats

Close up of heath land vegetation

Everyday features: these can partially mask the developments.

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Locating in Agricultural Lowlands.Generally less problematical.

Slieve Felims: one refusal here on scenic and ecological grounds.

Renewable energy which does not require Planning Permission

At the lower and higher ends of the scale of renewable energy, legislation being put in place removing renewable energy developments from the requirement of planning permission at Local Authority level.

Planning Regulations,2007, have exempted renewable energies at a domestic level. Regulations on solar power, wind turbines, CHPbio-mass boilers and heat pumps, up to a certain size, are proposed

At the other end of the scale wind farms, hydro and large CHP will be dealt with directly by An Bord Pleanala under the Strategic Infrastructure Act 2006.

Balance to be achieved between promoting renewable

energy and protecting the environment.

Recent SPA designations have implications for wind energy in Limerick ,Tipperary and Cork Local Authority areas.

Examining the capacity of certain areas to assimilate wind farms and promote other renewable e.g. anaerobic digesters.

Other side of energy balance is to reduce energy consumptions e.g. sustainable rural settlement patterns, energy efficient design and efficient urban development - new draft residential guidelines will issue next week

Sustainability and use of renewable resources is imbedded in CDP polices and regional and national policies. Nonetheless individual responsibility is an important factor – think globally, act locally