Limerick councillor says ‘legislation on wind turbines needs work’

A LIMERICK councillor has called upon the Green Party leader, Eamon Ryan to update legislation around the construction of wind turbines.

Councillor for Adare-Rathkeale, Adam Teskey called upon Mr Ryan to see if there is any current legislation surrounding wind turbine noise and shadow flickers and “if not, are there any plans to introduce regulations”.

Mr Teskey referenced a planning application understood to be submitted in the near future for the construction of up to six wind turbines in close proximity to dwellings in Coolcappa.

Sometimes when wind turbines are too close to dwellings, the turbines can repeatedly cast over the sun, causing an irritating phenomenon known as shadow flicker.

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Shadow flicker occurs when the sun is low enough in the sky - usually in the evenings or mornings - that the wind turbines pass over it causing a brief shadow over landscapes and buildings every few seconds.

Mr Teskey is asking Mr Ryan to update the legislation in order to future-proof the building of turbines.

Cllr Stephen Keary believes the group should withhold from submitting a planning application at this time as the legislation around wind turbines is out of date.

“The whole community is terrorised if that planning application is landed,” he said.