Irish call for local focus

Ireland’s energy minister has called on the country’s wind industry to be more realistic about the concerns of local communities.

Alex White told the Irish Wind Energy Association’ (IWEA) annual conference in Dublin today that developers must remain ambitious.

White (pictured), who lost his seat as a TD in last month’s General Election, is to remain in office until a new government is formed.

In unscripted remarks, the energy minister also called on communities to be “progressive”.

“First of all to the industry, you need to continue to be ambitious but also understand the need to be realistic as well – the two are not in conflict with one another. You have to listen and you have to understand,” he said.

“I’d say to communities across the country: Be progressive. Understand the great opportunities there are associated with renewables. Climate change is a challenge for all of us – not just urban or rural areas.

“We want to maintain the fabric of life in rural areas, but we must also understand that to make progress we have to have negotiations. We need to work together on the basis of what the evidence suggests we can achieve.”

White also said the criticism of Ireland’s planning system is unwarranted.

“I’m not going to mention any particular decisions, but to my eye recent decisions including those from An Bord Pleanala demonstrate to me that the planning system is robust and does work,” he said.

“I wonder really about the necessity to amend guidelines or amend the planning code, when it has demonstrated that it is alive to the concerns of the industry…and the people living in rural Ireland.”

White also appealed to the next government, which he said must show leadership as Ireland continues its renewables push.

“We cannot make progress in any area of public policy through diktat and nor can we make progress through inactions and a failure to face up to challenges and problems publicity,” he said.

“We can’t progress to a new energy system that requires change and upsets different interests without having political leadership.

“If politicians and government are for anything they are for mediating to the public the importance of change and in working out together with communities the best way to achieve that change.”

Image: Irish Labour Party