August 7, 2013
Ireland

MEP Harkin to host Athlone public meeting on windfarms

The Westmeath Independent | 6th August 2013 | www.westmeathindependent.ie

MEP Marian Harkin is to host a public meeting in Athlone to discuss the proposed development of large-scale windfarms in the Midlands.

The meeting will take place in the Athlone Springs Hotel on Monday next, August 12, at 7pm.

Ms Harkin recently organised a public meeting on the issue in Mullingar, which generated a large attendance and heard some strong opposition to the proposed Midlands wind energy developments.

“I am organising this meeting because of the huge public interest surrounding current proposals in regard to siting wind farms across the midlands,” said the Independent MEP.

“While the planning decisions taken about wind farms will be made at a national level there is a European perspective, and, crucially, we need to learn from what has happened in other countries.

“In this context I am very pleased that a colleague of mine from the European Parliament, Struan Stevenson MEP, has agreed to address this meeting.

“Struan has studied the wind energy sector in great detail and his informed views at the meeting should help the debate having regard to his knowledge of wind farm development particularly in the UK and Scotland.

“Andrew Duncan who is the spokesperson for the Lakeland Wind Farm Information Group and one of the spokespersons for the Midlands Alliance will also address the meeting, as will Michael Keane from Roscommon who will speak of the devastating effect that living beside a wind farm has had on his life and that of his family.

“A number of national politicians also plan to attend and will update the meeting on the most recent developments in regard to the Government response on the issue.”

It emerged last week that the plans for wind farms in the Midlands, which would export energy to the UK, will be put on hold for over a year to allow the Government draw up a new policy framework in this area.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/08/07/mep-harkin-to-host-athlone-public-meeting-on-windfarms/