But Chief Executive will meet anti-pylon campaigners over north south interconnector
Michael Fisher
EirGrid boss Mark Foley has said there is no viable alternative to constructing the planned North South interconnector as an overhead high voltage line with 400 pylons. Speaking to Monaghan Councillors after making an online presentation about the company’s future plans for the grid to meet targets for renewable energy, he spelt out the reasons why an underground cable would not be possible because of the length involved.
He also explained that the interconnector running from Meath through Cavan and Monaghan would be part of the “central nervous system” or a spine in the allisland grid. Following a request from Carrickmacross based Fianna Fáil Councillor PJ O’Hanlon, the eirgrid Chief executive said he would be absolutely delighted to meet representatives of the north east pylon pressure Campaign and the County Monaghan Anti Pylon Committee next week to explain his views on the project.
Mr Foley also said he was unaware what shape the review promised recently by an Taoiseach Micheál Martin at a meeting of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party would take. he said he thought they were still working out the terms of reference. plans for the review became clearer on Tuesday, however, when the Climate Minister Eamon Ryan referred to it as he addressed an Oireachtas committee meeting. Answering a question from Meath East Sinn Féin Deputy Darren O’Rourke, he stated: “we will commission someone to complete that review which is really focusing on the range of independent international studies that we’ve done on this issue to look again at all the analysis that they presented to get confirmation that the analysis and thinking behind it (the overhead line) is still absolutely appropriate and correct. I’m very keen that we do that in a proper, quick manner and that it is done in time subject to…
