EirGrid move sparks furious new row over 400 kV pylons

A furious row has erupted following EirGrid's announcement that it intends to reapply for planning permission for the highly controversial 400kV electricity interconnector, which will run the length of county. Opponents of the plan have accused the company of browbeating, bullying and arrogance, as it embarks on what is expected to be a long drawn-out planning process for the north-south interconnector, which will carry high voltage electricity between Meath and Tyrone. Minister of State Shane McEntee has weighed into the controversy, telling EirGrid it is unacceptable for it to plough ahead with a renewed application for an interconnector before international consultants had even been appointed to look at the case for undergrounding the power lines. He pointed out the programme for government stated clearly that such a report would be commissioned and he called on EirGrid to abide by the spirit of the programme. EirGrid announced this week that it was embarking on a fresh round of public consultation for the project in advance of the submission of a new application this year to An Bord Pleanála. EirGrid withdrew its original planning application last year, during an oral hearing, following an issue in relation to the public notice for the development. The North-East Pylon Pressure (NEPP) group has accused EirGrid of bullying and browbeating landowners. "EirGrid claim, on the one hand, that they are carrying out a thorough re-evaluation of the project. But, on the other hand, they have already written to landowners stating that they intend entering their land, by force if necessary, to survey where they intend placing the overhead lines and pylons. This is an affront to the definition of public consultation," said a spokesperson. He warned EirGrid that adopting forceful tactics to bully and browbeat landowners was neither a helpful, respectful or acceptable behaviour to adopt for a semi-state company, which is ultimately funded by the taxpayer. He urged all landowners to resist any "bully-boy tactics" being used by EirGrid to force their way onto landowners' property. "There needs to be proper consultation with landowners and the wider public on this issue. NEPP notes that EirGrid have learned nothing from their abysmal failure to provide a factual and accurate planning application in 2010. They refuse to properly analyse the superior merits of an undergrounding technology approach, despite their admission at the oral hearing in 2010 that such an approach is technically feasible," added the spokesperson. He welcomed Minister McEntee's comments and accused EirGrid of arrogance and disrespect to the programme for government. The spokesman also called on EirGrid to take responsibility for wasting millions of euros of taxpayers monies in 2010, through submitting a planning application that was deficient and inadequate and warned that NEPP would continue to challenge EirGrid's resubmission. Minister McEntee said the Programme for Government could not be clearer in that it says. "We will appoint an independent international expert commission to review and report, within six months, on a case for, and cost of, undergrounding (all or part of) Meath-Tyrone 400KV power lines," he said. He added it was entirely unacceptable for EirGrid to plough ahead at this time with a renewed application for an interconnector before the international consultants have even been appointed and before the relevant minister and the government have had an opportunity to consider their findings. EirGrid said this week it commenced a comprehensive review of the project shortly after the original application was withdrawn in June 2010. The preliminary findings of the review were published in a preliminary re-evaluation report, which will form the basis for consultation over the next six weeks. Aidan Geoghegan, EirGrid project manager, said: "There are some changes to the original route submitted as part of our first application to An Bord Pleanála. However, the preliminary re-evaluation report suggests that the new route should substantially follow that which formed the basis of the original application. "EirGrid is aware of the proposal in the Programme for Government to appoint an independent expert commission on undergrounding all or part of the North-South line. We will, of course, co-operate fully with any such review and have due regard for its findings," said Mr Geoghegan. He said the company plans to spend the coming weeks consulting with landowners and other stakeholders and feedback will be taken on board in advance of a new application to An Bord Pleanála.