Repeat of Apple saga feared at proposed €255m. Mayo plant - senator
The proposers of the Mayo renewable energy project, a 45 MW high efficiency combined heat and power biomass fuelled plant, to be built on the former Asahi site in Killala, have run into “a stone wall” with the Energy Regulator, Senator Michelle Mulherin has revealed.
This project, she said, is worth €255 million, of which €95 million has been invested to date by the new promoters, who have taken an equity stake of €95 million in the project.
“The promoters have taken on the task of revitalising and reviving the project,” she said.
“The planning permission has been extended by Mayo County Council and the promoters have received renewed consent from the Environmental Protection Agency in respect of emissions.
“The promoters have received confirmation from ESB Networks that the grid offer remains in place and will be offered to the new company.
“However, the promoters have tried to deal with the Energy Regulator, now known as the Commission for Regulation of Utilities but have run into a stone wall. Initially the Energy Regulator appointed consultants and the consultant did not want to give the project a high efficiency certificate, as had previously been given and subsequent to that the energy regulator has retained new consultants.”
Senator Mulherin said she was very concerned that there will be a repeat of what happened when Apple proposed to build a data centre in Athenry.
“This project is a golden opportunity for north Mayo and is key to developing our national policy objectives, such as renewable heat and energy, to which I know the Minister is very committed.
“It is also tied in with the development of a data centre on the same site, which requires a renewable energy project to be co-located with it. This critical project has been stalled.”
In response, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Richard Bruton said the Commission for Regulation of Utilities is an independent regulator.
“Unfortunately, I am not in a position to provide an insight as to what difficulties this application may be encountering other than to point the senator and the applicants to the very detailed guidance on what needs to be submitted, the calculations conducted by the regulator and how it weighs applications. The very detailed source document specifies the terms within which it operates.”