Implementing Renewable Energy Policy at Local Authority Level. Gerry Sheeran Limerick 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  Addressing climate change by reduction of greenhouse gas emissions  Promoting growth of renewable energy sources  Integrated process of sustainable development and use of bio-energy resources  Accelerating energy research development and innovation programmes in support of sustainable energy goals  The importance of security of energy supply and the advantages of home-grown renewable energies over imported energies  42% of electricity generated from renewables by 2020  20% reduction in greenhouse gas by 2020 – EU target  Limerick 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-fuels  Consistent approach needs to be taken with management of wind power at regional level  Favourable consideration for renewable energy subject to environmental and social impacts  Impact of development on the landscape  Grid connections  CDPs 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 Plans in the Mid-West Region All of the plans take a positive approach subject to some caveats For 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 Developments  Landscape 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 bog SPA area for harriers and upland peat habitats

Close up of heath land vegetation

Everyday features: these can partially mask the developments. o

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, CHP bio-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