Construction of North South Interconnector Set for November
Michael Fisher
If you had seen the headline above a week ago, you might have thought it was an April Fool’s stunt. But it is a reality. EirGrid has been working behind the scenes during the pandemic to bring its plans to fruition (approved in December 2016 by An Bord Pleanála) for an overhead high voltage electricity line and 400 pylons across five counties including Monaghan. The only hitch could come north of the border where a legal challenge to the planning permission granted by SDLP Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon is being taken in May by the anti-pylon group SEAT.
EIRGRID TO CONTACT MONAGHAN COUNCILLORS
In a fortnight’s time, EirGrid are due to give a presentation online to a special meeting of Monaghan County Council to talk about the company’s plans for grid development. Their emphasis will be on climate change and how Ireland can meet the EU target of sourcing 70% of its electricity requirements from renewable sources such as wind and solar energy by 2030. The members of the County Council agreed last month to accept a presentation from EirGrid on their new electricity strategy but also vowed to use the opportunity to reinforce community concerns over the North South interconnector project. Chief Executive Eamonn O’Sullivan informed the March meeting that the Council had been approached by EirGrid as part of their public consultation on their future strategy and a date had been agreed on April 21st at 2:00pm for a virtual presentation. Mr O’Sullivan said he had flagged to the EirGrid Chief Executive Mark Foley that the North South interconnector would be something the Council members would wish to have dealt with as part of the consultation. The meeting had originally been planned to take place….
