May I draw your attention to the public consultation workshop on the Green Paper on Energy Policy to be held by the DCENR in Cork on 12th December, 2014. “Details” at http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/Energy/Energy+Planning+and+Electricity+Corporate+Division/Energy+Policy.htm. Actually, details of the venue have not yet been supplied. This is unacceptable at this late stage, but it also means that there is an opportunity to secure a much larger venue and have the workshop for an adequate length of time.
What has become apparent from the four Dublin public consultation workshops to date is that the DCENR only regards buyers and sellers as ‘stakeholders’. Sellers include farmers who lease land for turbines, wind energy developers and operators, house insulation designers and installers, smart meter suppliers and smart appliance suppliers. Buyers are the citizens who will be railroaded by policy into paying the suppliers.
‘Ordinary’ rural folk who will be affected by proximity to wind turbines / pylons on neighbouring land are NOT considered to be stakeholders. They do not contribute to the enrichment of the suppliers who are driving the agenda. They are inconsiderate obstacles on the “road to enlightenment”. If you doubt this, just listen to Pat Rabbitte on Michael and Dorothy Keane from Roscommon speak about living beside a Wind Farm and fast-forward by 1 minute 30 seconds.
I would urge as many people as possible to attend the Cork workshop and make it clear to the DCENR and Minister White that you are indeed ‘stakeholders’ and that you will raise your voices, and use your vote, to ensure that your views are taken into consideration, rather than this just being the sham consultation that the Department is trying to sell us.
If the venue is not big enough to accomodate all of you, demand a bigger venue, and if that cannot be delivered, demand that the workshop is postponed, and your expenses refunded, until a bigger venue can be made available. Similarly, if there is not enough time to air your views and concerns and fears, demand more time, or demand that it be recorded that there was insufficient time for full and proper consultation.
Until we make it clear that this type of bogus operation simply cannot be allowed to continue, it will continue, to our ultimate detriment. Protect your family, your environment, your future, and attend the workshop on 12th December.
i’ve asked for session in the south east – send an email to DCNER asking as well (I proposed Bunclody becuase I am selfish !!!)
Well done Francis. It is criminal that there has been nothing in the South East despite being the region hardest hit by Grid25.
Don’t feel selfish – Bunclody is lovely – the Mill Race Hotel maybe? I’ve enjoyed the odd pint there, it’s a glorious setting.