An Bord Pleanála has granted permission for Bord na Móna to continue to operate a Co Offaly power station for another seven years despite concerns over possible environmental damage to the Bog of Allen and EU protected rivers.
The ruling document, published this morning, shows that An Bord Pleanála Senior Inspector Derek Daly had turned down the application for planning for Edenderry Power Plant last February.
Mr Daly had then concluded that it was not clearly demonstrated that the development would not give rise to significant adverse effects on the environment in terms of scale and significance.
But An Bord Pleanála did not adopt his decision and decided to seek further information on the environmental impact of the peat burning power station which resulted in the submission of revised investigative reports in July.
The scope of these revised reports extended to all peat harvesting areas associated with the continued operation of the power plant and led to a new decision by the planning inspector to grant planning based on the new information.
Bord na Móna had sought an extension of the power station's operation to 2030.
The plant is co-fired with a mixture of peat and carbon neutral biomass, burning up to 1.2 million tonnes of peat a year.
An Taisce and others had objected, claiming the indirect environmental effects of extracting peat for the power stations have not been properly evaluated.
Instead, An Bord Pleanála says the station should be decommissioned in seven years time, unless an alternative use is found for it.
The board said it had adopted the report of the inspector, who was now satisfied that, subject to implementation of mitigation measures, the continued operation of the power plant and associated peat harvesting activities, would not have unacceptable impacts on the environment.
Bord na Móna says Edenderry Power Plant is the largest single source of dispatchable renewable power on the island of Ireland and a significant employer in the area".
Over 50% of the electricity generated by Bord na Móna is derived from renewable sources, it said.
It said its objective "is to increase renewable energy production and develop new renewable energy assets".
An Taisce today said the "continuation of peat extraction and burning for electricity Ireland is irreconcilable with achieving the emission reductions required under the Paris Agreement or for Ireland meet its EU 2020 and 2030 targets and take on its fair share in global climate action."
Minister for Communications, Climate Action & Environment Denis Naughten has welcomed the planning decision.
In a statement, he said the success of Edenderry station is "essential for Irish energy sustainability plans".
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