CLIMATE AND ENERGY TO DOMINATE COUNCIL MEETING

Climate and energy topics will dominate at the full meeting of Kildare County Council at Áras Chill Dara on 19 October, writes Brian Byrne. Topping the agenda is a cross-party call for the government to impose an immediate national moratorium on new data centres until formal planning rules are in place to assess peak electricity demand, local grid capacity, and the mandatory use of district heating systems. 

Members will also ask the council to consider a feasibility study to install photovoltaic solar panels as a canopy on the car park at Áras Chill Dara, to help reduce the emissions footprint of the council's HQ. 

Measures called for to future-proof the local authority itself include mandatory climate literacy training for councillors, to support oversight within statutory carbon budgets, and a dedicated climate adaptation programme targeting surface-water flooding caused by intense rainfall.

Another motion seeks fresh updates on the county’s long-term Wind Energy Strategy and there is also a request that the authority accelerates home retrofits to a minimum B2 standard, alongside a pilot scheme funding energy audits for local community halls.

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