A Clare Green Party representative claims the Government’s “holier than thou” approach to fracked gas will only result in greater reliance on US imports.
It comes as Shannon LNG, which is seeking to build a liquefied natural gas terminal in the Shannon Estuary, has been given the green light for a power plant and battery energy storage system.
The US company has been granted planning permission by An Bórd Pleanála for a 600-megawatt power plant as well as a 120-megawatt battery energy storage system and a re-gasification unit on a 630-acre site in North Kerry.
The development will connect to Ireland’s gas grid and provide capacity to the electricity generation market, with a tender with the State to commence in 2026.
Separately, Shannon LNG is looking to build an LNG terminal in the Shannon Estuary; a project which has been shrouded in controversy since it was first floated largely due to the negative health effects of the fuel source.
Cabinet signed off on this plan last month and Tulla-based Fianna Fáil Minister of State at the Department of Climate, Environment and Energy, Timmy Dooley says this is essential for energy security.
The power plant and battery energy storage system are expected to create “thousands” of jobs during construction and a further 50 once up and running.
Among those speaking out against the development is Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman who says it’s unclear how the station will be fuelled going forward.
He says his “worry” is that the company is going to “come back later and seek permission for specific LNG infrastructure, like a regasification system, once the new Government has further rolled back restrictions on LNG that had been put in place by the last Government”.
Ennis-based Green Party representative Brigid Ginnity believes it’s an inevitability that the power plant and battery energy storage system will eventually need to rely on fracked gas from the US.
You can listen to the full interview below.
