Wind power could bring our rural communities real wealth, exclusion zones will kill it, claim the Greens.

Greater community involvement in the planning process should be the answer to planning concerns about wind turbines.

Green Party Spokesperson for Energy and Natural Resources, Ossian Smyth said: "Wind power could bring real wealth into rural Ireland but plans from the Labour Party for 2km exclusion zones between house and turbine would do more to kill the potential that exists than anything else.

"There will always be valid concerns about the siting of wind farms, but the way to address them is to have greater public participation in the planning process. We should be using the sort of participative democratic models that were developed in the 'We the Citizens' rather than introducing short-sighted and draconian legislation to solve issues of location."

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"With this approach, we could also agree new ways of raising the level of community ownership in wind farms across Ireland. The Green Party would like to see every wind farm being owned or part owned by people who live in the vicinity. It's about getting people to have a sense of ownership of their energy resources and generating a sustainable income for the community.

"With Minister Pat Rabbitte about to sign a memorandum of understanding with the UK on trade in renewable energy between our two islands, the need for such a community approach is all the greater. He should ignore the proposals coming from the rest of the Labour Party and set out a new community ownership scheme which will allow the wind industry to flourish while still remaining a safe distance away from people's homes."

(CD/GK)