Kerry County Councillor Jackie Healy Rae has said that the lack of a proper planning policy on battery storage units could prove fatal and has renewed his calls on the Government to halt all planning on these units until more stringent planning guidelines are put in place.
Cllr. Healy Rae was making his comments in the aftermath of the toxic blaze at the site of Australia’s largest Tesla battery project when emergency services warned nearby communities of toxic smoke after a fire erupted at the largest lithium-ion battery project in the country.
Protest at Áras an Chontae
The proposal to site such battery storage units in the Sliabh Luachra area was a hot topic before the May 2019 local elections. The campaign against the proposals culminated in a protest in the yard of Áras an Chontae – Kerry County Council headquarters at Ratass, Tralee.
“Would we have resources and know how in this county to put a plan in place if such a unit went on fire?” Cllr Healy Rae has asked.
Environmental Consequences
“With current planning for possible battery storage units in across Kerry, how much certainty can planners give communities that such a fire would not only devastate the local community but the far-reaching consequences for the environment down the line.
“I feel that more research needs to be carried out and if local authorities are being asked to consider this application the Government will have to put in place planning guidelines, as at present there is none, before the green light can be given to some of these projects, especially ones in built up areas”
See video and news report below from the Australia Fire with a click on the link here:
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