An Bord Pleanála approved four wind farm projects capable of generating 228 megawatts in the first half of the yearthis year by zoning and rezoning land to prevent new projects, a lobby group for the wind energy sector has said.has published the first in what it said it will be a new series of quarterly reports on the number of wind energy projects moving through the planning system.
Efforts by county councils to prevent the development of wind farms has contributed to an increase in the number of projects being rejected by An Bord Pleanála, the body said. He said: “These anti-wind energy zonings will ultimately push up costs for consumers. It means that we will continue to be exposed to the volatility of international energy markets and continue to pay higher prices for imported fossil fuels. It will also reduce the attractiveness of Ireland as a place to do business for international companies and miss out on the economic benefits associated with local projects, including jobs and investment, council rates and community benefits.