Waterford becomes a hotspot for solar farms

Waterford is attracting a large amount of solar farm developments, and locals are concerned.

Aisling O’Sullivan, Senior Planner at Waterford Council, shed light on the matter last week, saying Waterford must truly be “the sunny south-east”, owing to the sheer number of solar developments taking place across the county.

“Yes, we are getting a lot of applications for solar farms” Ms. O’Sullivan said.

“Off the top of my head there are 19 or 20 solar farms granted permission. That’s granted, not constructed. Some of those may never be constructed, and some might wait a couple of years to be constructed.

“They are dealt with on their own merits and we have no control over what applications are submitted to us. We do have control however over the community impact developments like this can have.” 

Meanwhile, councillors in Waterford’s Comeragh district have expressed concerns over the amount of agricultural land being used for solar farms.

Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr Liam Brazil, said:

“I do believe that Waterford has the far more applications than other places. There seems to be a lot of them coming into the Comeragh district and it’s a pity to see them coming in on such good land.”

Cathaoirleach of the Comeragh District, Cllr Seanie Power, added:

“As a farmer, what bugs farmers is solar panels going onto good agricultural land. Its just crazy. Seeing solar farms going in to the best land, it would break your heart.” 

(Funded by the Local Democracy Scheme)