Plans afoot for €85m power plant

A CLARE county councillor has said he will lobby against the rezoning of a site in Mid-Clare, which has been earmarked as a possible location for an €85 million power plant.
The rezoning of the site in Stonehall, Newmarket-on-Fergus, is part of the proposed Shannon Town and Environs Local Area Plan 2012 to 2018. The draft plan notes the large site “is zoned to facilitate the development of a large-scale green/renewable energy development”.
The plan goes on to say, “An example development, which would be appropriate for this site might be a high-efficiency, combined heat and power plant, running on biomass/timber”.
Councillor Gerry Flynn said he will not support the rezoning for this purpose, arguing it is not an appropriate site for such a development.
“I am opposed to the particular zoning because over the years, we would have had several presentations from Shannon Development regarding the regeneration of the industrial estate and as we stand today, there is quite a lot of it in a state of dereliction,” he commented.
Parents of children attending Stonehall National School, as well as people living in the area, plan to hold a public meeting next Wednesday to discuss the rezoning and possible development of the site.
Judy O’Dea-Slott has two children attending the school. She said there is a lot of confusion in the area about what will be allowed on to the site.
“Nobody knows that there is an intended power station, even neighbours to the land don’t know.

“This meeting is to raise awareness of the possibility of this project. People are wary and worried because we don’t know what the heck will be going on over there and the fact that nobody has been told anything about this is making matters worse,” she said.
Carbon Sole Group and Industries Ltd has confirmed that after two years of research, it believes this site in Stonehall is the most suitable site for a combined heat and power (CHP) plant.
Sean Daly from the company told The Clare Champion it examined a variety of sites in the West of Ireland and found Shannon best positioned from the point of view of access to raw materials in terms of forestry, the county development plan, the fact there was previously a district heat system in the area and the Clare Limerick Energy Agency, among other things.
“We have met with the Shannon Development agency and a number of private landowners and are very limited in where we can locate this plant. We need 22-25 acres and within an industrial estate there is very limited space. When you look at the road infrastructure in Shannon and the road out to the Stonehall site and Shannon Aerospace, it was widened long before we showed any interest in the area.
“This road means we have the most direct route to the site without negatively impacting on the town. We are conscious of people who live in the area, of course, and once we enter pre-planning, we will be happy to sit down with them or their representatives and work through any issues that arise,” Mr Daly stated.
The cost of building the plant is estimated to be in the region of €85m, with a further €20m direct spending in the region per annum. The project is currently at a preliminary stage with respect to the generation capacity of the facility but those behind it are hoping it will be in the planning process by this summer.
Mr Daly said the company had not been contacted by this Wednesday afternoon in relation to the public meeting next week but added he hopes to hold an information meeting within the next two months to outline the company’s plans to people in the area. Mr Daly added that the company proposes to set up an office in Shannon to answer further questions that arise and met with Shannon councillors in July last year.
Mr Daly is keen to allay fears with regard to the proposed height and use of the building.
“It will not be in excess of 45 metres in height at its highest part. We are hoping to bring it in under 40m but, at the moment, we are saying not in excess of 45m,” Mr Daly asserted.
“This is a combined heat and power plant. It will be fuelled using biomass. We are not burning waste.
“The boiler alone for this project costs €15m. It cannot take waste.
“This is highly efficient green energy, where we have to process the biomass to fuel the boiler to deliver electricity and hot water to a district heat site.
“We have reviewed a number of locations around Shannon town and its environs and are largely limited due to no fly zones, residential areas and the proximity to industrial areas, which would be our main heat users.
“We will only be burning wood and, at that, only certain types,” he continued.
Councillor Flynn is unmoved. He expressed fears about the possible volume of heavy goods vehicles supplying raw materials to the plant.
Mr Daly estimates this will be in the region of two trucks per hour but could be up to four at certain times.
Councillor Flynn stated, “My position is clear. Even at the presentation by the representatives of this biomass proposition, I said consideration of residents must be to the fore and I don’t think they [the company] have done that. I will propose an amendment and I expect a number of my colleagues to support me. It is down to a lobby now and I will be lobbying my colleagues. I know some of my colleagues will be supporting my stance. We need jobs but in getting them you cannot step on the small people. We are all in favour of jobs but you don’t destroy a green field site if you already have a site that can be regenerated and I believe we have that.”
Fellow Shannon County Councillor Patricia McCarthy said she supports the zoning of this site, as outlined in the LAP.
“My position is that I have looked at what the planners have said and they have said this site is ideal for a project, not any specific project but a project that would be of benefit to the area and I am accepting the planners’ recommendation on this one.
“If any application comes in, it will be decided as part of the planning process. I have nothing to do with the planning process. If people, on either side, are unhappy with a planning decision then there is an appeals process that can be pursued,” Councillor McCarthy stated.
Shannon man and senator, Tony Mulcahy, is the Senate spokesman on energy, communications and natural resources. He is not only in favour of the zoning but also of the proposed project.
“I have been an advocate and supporter of this project since I found out about it about 15 months ago.
“This would mean the delivery of green renewable energy into the industrial estate and the town at a cost of up to 25% below that of fossil fuels.
“This will ultimately give the Shannon Industrial Estate a competitive edge by establishing a green, renewable footprint in the estate itself. It will give us a competitive edge because it will be ourselves and Sligo, if they get a connection, that will be the only ones that have this,” Senator Mulcahy commented.
“The growth of fuel would primarily be local in Clare, Limerick and Tipperary and private and basically what would be established is a whole industry here through the provision of locally grown timber being used in the plant to create energy.
“It has the potential to create farm incomes for many small-to-medium-sized farmers across Clare and beyond.
“If one looks at the wind-down of Finsa in Scariff, this would certainly provide a replacement outlet for the many growers in Clare.
“My firm belief is this will lead to the recovery of the Shannon Region and ultimately Clare,” Senator Mulcahy added.
The public meeting takes place next Wednesday at 7pm in Stonehall National School. A decision on the Shannon Town and Environs Local Area Plan is expected before April 20.