Planning granted for €500m energy plant in Rochfortbridge

Westmeath County Council has granted planning permission for a natural gas fuelled power plant and battery storage facility on the outskirts of Rochfortbridge despite significant local opposition.

The planning applications for the two sections of the €500m energy project, which developer Lumcloon Energy Limited says would be used to provide back up facilities to the national grid and would only be operational when renewable generation falls off suddenly, were the subject of over 100 objections by local residents.

The campaign opposing the development is being led by the Rochfortbridge Power Plant Committee (RPPC). In its submission, the group expressed concerns about the “possible health effects” of “air pollutants” generated when the plant was operation, as well as the negative impact it would have on property values. The group also claimed the construction of an industrial development in a rural location “would destroy an important health and wellbeing resource”.

Locals weren’t the only ones to submit objections to the project, which Lumcloon says will generate 400 jobs during the construction phase and a further 25 jobs when it is operational.

In its submission objecting to the power plant, An Taisce said that the development was “incompatible” with national policy on climate change and recent legislation relating to low carbon development.

If the project goes ahead, Westmeath County Council will receive over €1.5m in development contributions.