Westmeath County Council has given the go ahead for a €500 million energy facility on the outskirts of Rochfrotbridge despite local objections.
Lumcloon Energy Ltd has been granted planning permission for a gas fuelled power plant and battery storage facility on a 52-acre site next to the M6 motorway.
Lumcloon said the project will generate 400 jobs during the construction phase and a further 25 jobs when it is operational.
The planning applications for the two sections of the energy project, which Lumcloon said 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 spearheaded by the Rochfortbridge Power Plant Committee (RPPC).
The group has expressed concerns about the "possible health effects" of "air pollutants" generated when the plant was operational, 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".
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.
Environmental campaigner Peter Sweetman also lodged an objection against the power plant.
Last month, Lumcloon's proposed development in Rochfortbridge was one of nine gas fired stations to be given the green light by Eirgrid to generate electricity.
Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan said the gas fired stations and energy storage facilities are "vital" if Ireland is to meet its renewable energy targets as they "can support the variable nature of renewable electricity production and ensure security of electricity supply as we phase out coal and oil for generation".
