The go-ahead has been given to the ESB by An Bord Pleanála for the construction of a peat-fired electrical power generation plant at Shannonbridge, Co Offaly.
The plant is expected to be operational by 2004 and will replace another power plant which has been operating from the same site for more than 35 years. There are 145 employees working there, but the new one will employ just 40 people. However, up to 400 jobs will be created during its construction, which will cost €127 million. A total of 1.24 million tonnes of peat will be burned and 55,000 tonnes of ash produced each year.
The decision this week by An Bord Pleanála to grant permission for the plant came despite objections from two third parties, including An Taisce.
An Taisce claimed the development would be contrary to the National Strategy on Sustainable Development.
In its submission, it said Ireland was already exceeding the carbon dioxide emission limits under the Kyoto Protocol. The policy of providing replacement peat powered electricity generation stations, as highlighted in the National Climate Change Strategy, was contrary to the principles of sustainable development.
Ireland was particularly at risk from global warming. An Taisce said alternative options had not been considered.
The other appellant, Mr Oliver Hilliard of Shannonbridge, appealed the granting of planning permission by Offaly County Council to the ESB in March 2001 because of road safety concerns given the amount of peat to be transported daily to the plant.
Overruling their concerns, An Bord Pleanála gave the go-ahead, subject to a number of conditions. It stipulated planning permission would expire in 2020 unless permission had been granted by then for the plant's continued use.
It said the main emissions stack should be a maximum of 80 metres high and ash should only be transported from the power station to the ash disposal facility by rail in the interest of traffic safety. The ash disposal site is located 6.5 km to the north-east of the station site in the middle of a Bord Na Mona bog at Derrylahan.
An Bord Pleanála also requires the ESB to submit to Offaly County Council, before the start of any development, a plan to restore the site after the plant's life has expired.
The decision on the Shannonbridge plant comes just days after the ESB was given permission by An Bord Pleanála to construct a similar plant at Lanesboro, Co Longford.
Friends of the Irish Environment had objected to the construction of that plant and when its objections were overruled, it criticised An Bord Pleanála's ruling.