Councillors go against regulator and include buffer zone in Mayo renewable energy strategy

A DRAFT Renewable Energy Strategy (RES) for Mayo has been adopted at the monthly county council meeting.

Councillors went against the opinion of the Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) and included a one-kilometre buffer zone from settlements in their plan.

With requests to defer a decision on the draft, for which the council received 44 submissions following public consultation, it was ultimately ratified by 21 votes to five after a discussion lasting more than two hours.

As well as removing the buffer zone, which relates to settlements of 50 houses or more, the OPR asked that a clause relating to undergrounding powerlines in visually and environmentally sensitive areas also be removed by the council. A similar view was held in relation to a clause about a wind energy development having to demonstrate that there is sufficient grid capacity available to accommodate its connection.

Mayo produces 6.8% of Ireland's renewable energy. Development from renewables to date has exceeded the energy target of 600 MW, and cumulatively there is potential capacity of 1,114 MW from existing and permitted developments, across wind, solar, bioenergy, green hydrogen, and hydroelectric sources.

Concern was voiced by Councillor Harry Barrett that a number of protections they included in the plan were being recommended for removal by the OPR. He asked for the matter to be deferred to give members more time to consider the report, a view supported by Councillor Michael Kilcoyne.

Against a backdrop of national bureaucracy and policy, their hands were tied, Councillor Damien Ryan noted, and his concerns included the buffer zone and protections for the UNESCO geopark area in south Mayo and north Galway.

Community gain funds, he added, needed to be increased by 400 per cent, something they had tried before but were shot down on by national bureaucracy.

The point was made by Councillor Peter Flynn that if people had specific issues, they could put forward amendments. Deferring matters would hand it over to the minister to make decisions on their behalf, he warned.

Councillor Patsy O'Brien was adamant about including the buffer zone for settlements, while Councillor Michael Loftus was concerned about similar zones around historical site, the Céide Fields being one example.

An 'astonished' Councillor Gerry Murray said their planning team had presented sustainable, rational proposals, but the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment had instructed that they be removed.

The State, he said, needed to take back ownership and control. Instead, policy is being led by the private sector with elected members reduced to mere spectators.

Councillor Murray hailed the document as being a 'blank cheque for the renewable energy sector' and his recommendation was to reject it. Councillor Barrett supported him in flatly rejecting it.

There was a general view that protections were needed for communities but the decision was essentially being taken out of their hands.

Senior planner John McMyler said the current RES is not fit for purpose, with the new one being far more robust. A point touched on by chief executive Kevin Kelly, who said the new plan offered communities a lot more protection.

With two proposals (to defer or adopt with the buffer zone), a vote taken on adoption succeeded.

* Funded under the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme