WIREDGOV

The Northern Ireland Assembly Committee for the Environment yesterday launched its report on its Inquiry into Wind Energy. The Committee initiated the Inquiry in response to local groups who were concerned about the impact on rural dwellers of the increasing number of wind turbines in the countryside. The inquiry was confined largely to planning matters and other areas which fall within the remit of the Department of the Environment. The Committee took evidence from a wide range of stakeholders, visited a wind farm site and took advice from a specialist acoustician on noise issues.

Speaking about the report, Chairperson of the Committee, Anna Lo, MLA, said: "Although the Committee is fully supportive of the Executive's commitment to promote renewable energy and the need to meet the Executive's Programme for Government target for 2011-2015, we felt that we needed to investigate how these objectives are being implemented in relation to wind energy.

"After consideration of all the evidence, the Committee has recommended that the Department should take a more strategic approach to the siting of wind turbines, as well as carrying out an urgent review of current noise guidelines. The Department should also ensure that those involved in producing electricity from wind power should engage more effectively with local communities and the planning authorities."

Ms Lo concluded: "The Committee recognises the efforts made by the industry to engage with local residents, but it was evident throughout the Inquiry that people living near to current or proposed wind developments do not believe that they have been adequately informed or listened to. The Committee therefore hopes that the recommendations in this report will lead to a more meaningful form of engagement between the wind industry and the communities whose concerns gave rise to this Inquiry."

Notes to Editors:

In June 2013, at an external meeting in Omagh, the Committee for the Environment had formal briefings from representatives of West Tyrone Against Wind Farms, a group which opposes the siting of wind turbines in populated rural areas, and from the Strabane/ Omagh Councils Working Group on Wind Energy.

The Committee issued a formal Call for Evidence which closed on 28 February 2014 with the Committee receiving 98 responses.

Committee Membership:

Ms Anna Lo MLA (Chairperson)
Mrs Pam Cameron MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Cathal Boylan MLA
Mr Colum Eastwood MLA
Mr Alban Maginness MLA
Mr Ian McCrea MLA
Mr Barry McElduff MLA
Mr Ian Milne MLA
Lord Morrow MLA
Mrs Sandra Overend MLA
Mr Peter Weir MLA