Fine Gael Kildare South TD, Martin Heydon, has informed local landowners that reviews are ongoing on the controversial Gridlink project proposed by Eirgrid. He was speaking at a meeting in Narraghmore this week organised by the Gridlink Action Group.
“I had always said that all options for this new infrastructure should be examined before any final decisions were made and I fought to have the project reviewed. Three reviews of different aspects of the project are currently ongoing and I was glad to have the opportunity to explain these reviews to local landowners at a meeting this week.
“An independent expert panel chaired by Justice Catherine McGuinness is reviewing the undergrounding options for the Gridlink project. Their work will include assessments of potential environmental impacts, technical efficacy and cost factors. The report of theindependent expert panel is due in mid-2015.
“The Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources is undertaking a review of our overall national energy policy which is reviewing all aspects of energy policy from wind to biomass. I made a submission to this review as part of the public consultation process during the summer. The submission from ESB to the consultation process caused my recent debate with the Minister when ESB’s submission challenged Eirgrid’s electricity demand projections. The contents of these submissions will be reviewed and considered before a White Paper is published shortly.
“The third review underway is Eirgrid’s overall review of Grid 25, of which Gridlink is a part, as confirmed to me in the Dáil last week. This includes an independent review of the Strategy for Grid 25, based on the changing economic and energy demand circumstances since 2008. This review is expected to be published in the New Year.
“I am happy that all aspects of the project and the wider environment surrounding it are being reviewed at present and I look forward to reviewing the reports that emerge in 2015.”
ENDS