It’s been claimed that farmers in the East Cork area are being intimated and harassed by some large renewable energy companies in a bid to convince them to allow large scale energy developments on their lands.
Aontú Cllr Peter O’ Donoghue says that he has been approached by farmers who are being canvassed on a regular basis and who feel under duress to sign contracts.
He says
“I was speaking to a farmer this morning who’s no shrinking violet but even he was a bit rattled by the constant contact from one renewable energy outfit.
He has been approached on numerous occasions, in all five times so far, and those who contacted him seem unable to take no for an answer.
It’s his land and he should not be under any duress whatsoever to do anything he doesn’t want to do.
He’s a strong-minded man; what about those farmers who may be that bit more timid or vulnerable.
It is not on. By their nature farmers are generally quiet ,stoic people who don’t want fuss and so are not speaking out publicly on this themselves but there is no doubt that they feel pressurised and indeed are being pressurised.
Farmers have come to me to say they are under increasing pressure to sign the paperwork which would allow large scale renewable energy structures in the area, transforming it from a rural area into one that is full of steel and glass structures.
“Grants and funding are being pumped into massive corporations who are behind large scale industrial wind and solar energy developments in the Fermoy Municipal District Area, while householders and smaller businesses who want to install them are receiving scant help.
Cllr O’ Donoghue who, together with his colleague and Independent Cllr William O’ Leary, organised a public meeting on the issue recently which saw a large turnout of concerned locals , has renewed calls for a moratorium on all solar and wind energy developments across Co. Cork until planning guidelines are in place.
Cllr O’ Donoghue says
“We are seeing the industrialisation of large parts of rural Cork as a result, and it seems that East/North Cork is the epicentre of this reckless industrialisation.
This cannot be allowed to continue!
I am the only councillor on CCC to put forward a motion seeking more funding for the installation of solar panels for homes and commercial and agricultural buildings .
There is scant funding for these
Solar doesn’t belong in our clean green picturesque, fertile fields.
Solar panels belong on roofs, and we fully support solar on roofs.
They should be on commercial buildings
“Currently there is a planning application for 450 plus acres in Leamlara just outside the district, another for 126 acres in Bartlemy, planning granted for 116 acres in Castleyons, planning granted for 22 wind turbines in Glenville and Bottlehill.
We received notice that a planning application is to be submitted for over 160 acres of solar panels in the townlands of Coolnakilla, Glannagaul and Mullentaura in Rathcormac, Fermoy and Ballyhooly.
The Leamlara Preservation Group is in the High Court today ( 8thSeptember ) seeking to stop the massive 450-acre solar farm in Leamlara in the east of the county.
In a joint statement, Aontú Cllr Peter O’ Donoghue and Independent Cllr William O’ Leary say they believe that “solar and wind energy developments are being recklessly railroaded into our area and it needs to stop”
Currently there are absolutely no planning guideline for solar energy and as for wind energy the guidelines that are in place are not fit for purpose as they are completely out of date y a
“The Fermoy Municipal District (MD)is being inundated with planning applications for wind and solar development.
This on top of planning for multiple substations in the area connected to these solar and wind developments.
There are no planning guidelines for solar energy developments and the guidelines for wind energy developments are completely outdated.
Cllr O’ Leary and myself have called for proper planning guidelines for solar and wind energy to be put in place by the current government, but our calls have been completely ignored.
We are proud of our beautiful rural scenic, area in Fermoy which is an important agricultural area .
It is vital that we have correct planning guidelines around solar development as currently those who are promoting and pushing, for what we believe to be the blatant industrialisation of our area, are actually benefitting from the lack of clear and proper guidelines
We are going to fight this all the way”.
