Environment

PLANS to cease burning coal to generate electricity in Moneypoint Power Station in 2025 may be delayed unless renewable sources of energy are delivered quicker than expected. Deputy Michael McNamara recently asked Climate Action and Environment Minister Eamon Ryan to outline the Government’s position regarding the operation of Moneypoint in view of ongoing energy security challenges. Minister Ryan confirmed the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) currently has a programme of actions underway to ensure the security of Ireland’s electricity supply over the coming winters. These actions include: procurement of new, enduring capacity through a number of capacity auctions; procuring additional temporary generation; extending the availability of existing generation capacity; additional use of grid scale batteries; and improved demand-side measures. Margins will remain tight during this coming winter period. “In line with the Government’s policy statement on security of electricity supply published in November 2021, it is appropriate that existing conventional electricity generation capacity, including existing coal, should be retained …

VOLUNTEERS working on a number of Clare beaches and waterside locations at the weekend picked up over 2.5 tonnes of litter between them. Clean Coasts, which organised the big beach clean-up between September 16 and 18 said it received overwhelming support and commitment from Clare volunteers and communities. Twenty-five groups banded together to carry out clean-up events removing the litter over the weekend. Among these groups, Clean Coasts volunteers were joined by Spanish Point Community Group, Brothers of Charity, Cappa Community Group, Scariff National School, Fanore Community Group, Ballvaughan Community Development Group/Tidy Towns, Ennistymon Tidy Towns and Connolly Tidy Village and other households, groups and individuals. These groups, tackled litter in several locations, including Spanish Point, Whitestrand Miltown Malbay, Cappa, Scariff town, Fanore, Bishops Quarter, Ennistymon River Region, Connolly Village and more. Clean Coasts officer Dara Dever joined a group of volunteers in Seafield who carried out a litter pick and marine litter survey. The event was such a success …

GRAVE concerns about the possible impact on dolphins from the expansion of a controversial Bauxite Residue Disposal Area (BRDA) for the largest alumina plant in Europe were outlined to An Bord Pleanála recently. An Bord Pleanála has given Rusal Aughinish Alumina Limited (AAL) the green light to deposit an extra eight million m3 of bauxite residue in total at its plant, despite trenchant opposition from Futureproof Clare, local farmers, Environmental Trust Ireland and environmental groups. This decision will allow the Russian-owned company to carry out a major expansion of its Bauxite Residue Disposal Area (BRDA), extending the life of the plant for an extra nine years up to 2039. In a submission to the appeals’ board on behalf of Dolphin Watch, Mary Kate Bolger, who has a qualification in zoology and marine biology specialising in bottlenose dolphins, outlined the creatures play a vital role in the eco-system by balancing populations of predatory fish and squid thereby protecting the entire eco-system …

TWO Clare-based businesses, have been shortlisted as finalists in the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) Energy Awards 2022. The Falls Hotel and Spa and the Lahinch Leisure Centre in partnership with Tipperary Energy Agency, are among the cohort of energy-conscious businesses and communities that have been selected for their dedication to an energy-efficient way of working. The annual awards recognise and reward excellence in sustainable energy in business, communities, research, buildings, renewables and the public sector. A total of 33 applicants across 10 categories have been shortlisted. Winners will be announced at the national awards ceremony in October, this will return in person for the first time in three years following online ceremonies during Covid. The Falls Hotel & Spa has been nominated for its six-year campaign to reduce its CO2 emissions. The hotel’s sustainability journey started with smart energy changes, such as switching all of the light fittings to LED, fitting aerators on all water supply systems and using …

A CELT Woodlands Open Day, will be held in the Slieve Aughty Centre, Loughrea next Sunday September 11 from 10am to 6pm. It is a fully hosted free event, sponsored by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The Centre for Environmental Living and Training (CELT) is opening its doors once again to celebrate Ireland’s native forests and the very many benefits of trees to ecologies, the economy and wellbeing. Morning talks on Agroforestry and Riparian Woodland Management will be particularly geared to land owners, farmers, and anyone interested in the continuation and expansion of native woodlands. Hosted walks will be held to demonstrate forest bathing, foraging, Brehon tree laws and Ogham alphabet as well as a medieval roundhouse. Crafters and demonstrations will be held in bushcraft skills, archery, leather work, wood turning and much more. There will be a forest school segment for youngsters and organic lunches will be provided. A special screening of “Call of the Forest: …

INTERESTED parties have been given the opportunity to engage in a virtual public consultation on the proposed Moneypoint Offshore Wind project. An online ‘consultation room’ was launched this Tuesday and will be open for a period of six weeks, closing on Monday, October 17. It will provide up-to-date information on the project as well as offer an opportunity for people to provide feedback and register to keep informed as the project progresses. A number of documents about the project are currently provided in the online consultation room, outlining the significance of the enterprise. Explaining its scale, one of the documents states that the project comprises two phases, namely Moneypoint One Offshore Wind, a floating wind project located approximately 16km offshore of southern Co Clare and approximately 22km west-northwest of Kerry Head in Co Kerry, and Moneypoint Two Offshore Wind, a floating wind project located further out to sea, at approximately 40km from the Co Clare and Kerry coastlines. The project …

AN Ennis councillor has resigned from the company set up to deliver Ennis 2040 objectives having appealed to An Bord Pleanala against controversial plans for a €450 million data centre. Councillor Johnny Flynn made the announcement he was stepping down from the Ennis 2040 (Strategic Development) Designated Activity Company (DAC) at the monthly meeting of the Ennis Municipal District. The development of a data centre at Toureen plays a central role in the Ennis 2040 plan where it is included among a number of ‘Transformational Projects’ for the county capital. Councillor Flynn told the meeting he did not want to “distract” from the Ennis 2040 DAC’s work after lodging his appeal against the development on the Tulla Road. He outlined that he has been engaged with the planning process for the site for a number of years including making a submission relating to its rezoning in 2019. Last month Art Data Centre Campus in Ennis became the first to be …

GREATLY increased energy prices are going to pose challenges not just for business this winter, but for everyone in the country, warns Allen Flynn, proprietor of the Old Ground Hotel in Ennis. “It is a very daunting time, for everybody, whether you’re in a one-bedroom flat or a four-bedroom house, whether you’re running a business or not, every citizen is going to be affected by this,” he says. Mr Flynn says while the Old Ground has cut energy usage in recent years, those savings will be more than wiped out this year. “In terms of ourselves here, what we’ve done over the last number of years is introduce a very strong energy consumption programme, so we can be as sustainable as possible. “That has brought significant reductions through LED lighting and everything like that. We’ve been very happy that our consumption has dropped. “But regardless of what we’ve managed to achieve in the last number of years, the fact is …