Mr Connolly was also speaking on the back of an IWEA survey showing significant public support for wind as a primary energy source. Almost 80% of respondents said they were in favour of wind energy and 55% said they would support the development of a wind farm in their local area. “The draft wind energy planning guidelines, published before Christmas... would make it more difficult and more expensive to develop renewable energy and to cut Ireland’s CO2 emissions,” he said. “Climate change will be the single greatest challenge for our society and the biggest issue for policymakers in the next few years,” said Mr Connolly. “It is clear that candidates and parties putting forward policies designed to tackle climate change, including supporting renewable energy like wind power, will be rewarded for it on election day.”

Source: Irish Examiner January 06, 2020 05:48 UTC