Campaigns Against Powerlines

Tuesday January 12, 2010 17:55

by Contaminated Crow

Proposed power distribution projects have faced strong opposition over the last year and a half. Proposed high-voltage powerlines have been opposed in counties Armagh, Cavan, Donegal, Galway, Kildare, Meath, Monaghan, Sligo and Tyrone, while electricity substations have been opposed in counties Galway, Laois and Sligo. This article takes a brief glance at this opposition, concentrating on the regional opposition in counties Cavan, meath and Monaghan against the proposed North-South Electricity InterConnector.

The last year and a half has seen strong opposition by concerned citizens’ groups to proposed power distribution facilities, with eight southern counties showing opposition to powerlines proposed by EirGrid and the ESB. This opposition can be seen as the Irish manifestation of EU-wide opposition to overhead pylons, with the EU reporting that 20 out of 32 major power transmission projects are facing delays due to public opposition, 12 facing 1-2 years delay and 8 facing delays of three years or more. (Meath Chronicle 20/6/09, p. 15).

A variety of campaigns
In October 2008 residents of Milltown, Co. Kildare, and surrounding areas met to discuss continuing their opposition to a proposal by Eirgrid and the ESB to erect pylons for a 110 kv power line in the area near the Hill of Allen. At the meeting, which was addressed by Con Colbert of the Irish Doctors’ Environmental Association, local landowners accused Eirgrid of bullying them into accepting pylons and poles on their land. Other locals, who have successfully opposed telemasts in the area, fear Eirgrid will erect mobile phone antennae on the pylons. Local resident Noeleen Leahy said ‘These power lines are within 400 metres of our homes and represent a detrimental health risk to our families. The electromagnetic field generated by these power lines is linked to childhood leukaemia and we want Eirgrid to put these power lines underground where they will not be a threat to anyone.’ (Source: Kildare Nationalist 19/10/08, p.1; Leinster Leader 16.10/08, p.1,2)

In late October 2008 also residents of Milltown, Dingle, Co. Kerry, prevented ESB contractors from erecting three poles to carry power lines across the Milltown river last week, with one local woman standing in front of a JCB to prevent the work going ahead. (Source: The Kerryman (sic) 29/10/08, p.5)

In November 2008 the ESB briefed Donegal County Council members about a proposed 110kv powerline from Binbane to Letterkenny for which it intended applying for planning permission direct to An Bord Pleanala under the Critical Infrastructure Bill. A previous application for the line was refused by An Bord Pleanala in 2001 following vociferous local opposition. (Donegal Democrat 20/11/08, p.3a). A bilingual An Bord Pleanala oral hearing into the proposed powerline began in Letterkenny in April 2009. Many of the submissions by concerned local residents and action groups related to the powerline’s visual impact on areas of high scenic beauty. (Donegal Democrat 2/4/09, p. 5a). One group, Alternatives To Pylons, argued the line would go through unspoilt landscapes, endanger public safety and adversely effect farming and tourism. (Donegal Democrat 26/3/09, p.3a.). When An Bord Pleanala gave the project the go-ahead in November its opponents called on landowners on the planned route to refuse work crews permission to enter their property. (Donegal Democrat 3/11/09, p. 4).

In February 2009 over 80 people attended a meeting in Boyle, Co. Roscommon, organized by SAFE (residents against overhead lines), which is opposed to the erection by the ESB of pylons along a 12-mile stretch in the Boyle area. The meeting was addressed by Martina Ruddy and Sheila Tipper from SAFE and also by prominent members of the opposition to Shell in Rossport, Co. Mayo, who shared their experiences of the anti-Shell campaign. (Roscommon Herald 24/2/09, p.19). The opposition in Boyle has been sustained for nine years by local residents, one couple, the Roddys, being served with four threats of High Court injunctions over the years. (Roscommon Herald 24/3/09, p.2)

In November 2009 An Bord Pleanala again delayed its decision on whether to grant permission for a 110 kv powerline through Connemara, which was subject to an oral hearing in April. A decision was expected on December 15th. (Connacht Tribune 6/11/09, p. 20). The decision was finally issued just before Xmas, with an Bord Pleanala giving permission. (http://www.galwaynews.ie/10349-work-connemara-power-lin...-year)

Meanwhile ESB substations ran into trouble. In March 2009 farmers claimed that a major new electricity sub-station built by the ESB at Sooey, Co. Sligo, would remain a white elephant if the ESB does not agree to place power lines to it underground. While the ESB says the sub-station is expected to be activated by the summer, local farmer James Clerkin said ‘People do not want the pylons and are still fighting to get the line underground. We have been calling on the ESB to put it underground and if they don’t do that people are going to oppose it.’ (Sligo Weekender 24/3/09, p. 8). In Athenry, Go. Galway the following month seven local residents appealed to An Bord Pleanala after Galway County Council granted permission to the ESB for a substation at the rear of Bridge Street, Athenry, Co. Galway, concerned it would have a detrimental effect on their health. (Connacht Tribune 17/4/09, p. 7). In August An Bord Pleanala refused permission. (Connacht Tribune 14/8/09, p. 6). In Co. Laois in November 2009 over 60 people gathered at Ratheniska GAA Club in November 2009 to discuss opposition to a proposed 400/100v substation: over 220 people had already signed a petition in opposition to the proposal and a local opposition committee was formed. (Leinster Express 25/11/09, p. 9).

Campaigning Against the North/South InterConnector
The largest opposition campaign has been run against the proposed North/South Interconnector with North East Pylon Pressure (NEPP) being the major opposition group, though significant work has also been done by groups such as the Lough Egish Anti-Pylon Committee, County Monaghan Anti-Pylon Committee and the County Monaghan Landowners’ Committee. Set up in late 2007 following a series of meetings in counties Cavan, Meath and Monaghan, NEPP says i9t has active committees in over 30 towns, villages and parishes. NEPP has run a campaign that has challenged EirGrid through the county councils, by mobilizing the public through public meetings, protests and rallies, by critiquing the economic, scientific and technical bases of EirGrid’s proposals through funding the production of alternative knowledge by commissioning a report from a reputable consultancy, through traditional lobbying methods, using new technology such as text update services and old technology such as advertisements in the local press, through cross-border links, by demanding that EirGrid’s current and future plans for powerlines should be the subject of a national debate and by calling on national, county and local organizations to oppose the project through the planning process. NEPP opposes the powerline due to health hazards to humans and other animals (including farm animals) from electromagnetic fields from overhead electricity lines, for reasons of cost, effect on property values, heritage, landscape and the tourism industry, and because undergrounding cables is more environmentally responsible than the pylon proposal. (for a summary of NEPP positions see http://www.pylonpressure.ie/web/NEPP/About%20NEPP/FAQs).

On Bank Holiday Monday in August 2008, NEPP organized a mobile and highly visual expression of opposition to the powerline proposal when over 1200 tractors left five locations in Cavan. Meath and Monaghan to come together at the farm of Dennis Farrelly in Kilmainhamwood, where 400 veteran tractors spelled out the message NO PYLONS in 100-foot high letters. (Meath Chronicle 9/8/08, pp.1,6). Not to be outdone, as part of its public rally on September 13th 2008 in the Aughnamullen GAA grounds the Lough Egish Anti-Pylon Committee planned to build a 120 foot high replica pylon. According to committee chairperson Owen Brannigan ‘This is to give the people of Co. Monaghan an opportunity to see at first hand the sheer mass of the pylons that EirGrid propose to erect through Co Monaghan, and the destruction that these pylons will cause to our landscape, our scenic views and our property values.’ (Monaghan Post 11/9/08, p.5)

Contesting EirGrid’s science, technology and economics
NEPP has contested the economic, scientific and technological basis on which EirGrid has based its plans for the InterConnector. At a meeting in Trim, Co. Meath in October 2008 NEPP published a report from Askon Consulting Group, a leading German electricity generation and transmission consultancy, which recommends the adoption of an underground system as an alternative to the 400kV overground north-south Inter Connector proposed by EirGrid. Dr. Colin Andrew of NEPP said ‘The Askon report provides us with the conclusive results we need…The time for research and talk from politicians is over. Now the people of the north-east demand action.’ (Meath Chronicle 18/10/08, p. 11) NEPP was invited by the operator of the Danish electricity service, Energinet, to attend a briefing in February 2009 on proposals to underground all future high power connections. (Meath Chronicle 31/1/09, p. 8). The same month 2009 NEPP highlighted a recent French court case in which a farmer was awarded 400,000 Euro in compensation for ‘direct, material and certain’ damage to his cattle and pigs from nearby electricity pylons as confirmation of the basis for NEPP’s campaign. Francis Lally, NEPP chairperson, said ‘This judgement confirms what we have been saying since we started our campaign. Despite all EirGrid’s protestations to the contrary, there is a clear link between increased disease in farm animals and proximity to electricity pylons. It is worth noting that the French farmer has to move his animals 1,000 metres away from the pylons, while EirGrid are proposing a distance of only 50 metres for farmers in the north-east’. (Meath Chronicle 7/2/09, p.6)

That same month NEPP rejected a report prepared for EirGrid which claimed the cost of undergrounding the proposed North-South InterConnector would be seven times more expensive than routing the line on overground pylons. According to NEPP ‘The report grossly overestimates the cost of operating an underground system and goes in the face of international expert opinion that, while underground may be more costly to build, it is always cheaper to operate than overhead. We utterly reject the assertion that underground is more costly to build and operate than overhead.’ (Anglo-Celt 19/2/09, p.7). While NEPP and EirGrid met for two days of technical discussions, NEPP then accused EirGrid of releasing a ‘misleading’ press statement regarding the two days of talks between the company and NEPP last week, stating ‘EirGrid’s statement does not characterize the proceedings of the two days either accurately or fairly. It is irresponsible on their part to mislead the many thousands of supporters of NEPP who did not have direct access to what actually went on.’ (Meath Chronicle 11/4/09, p.3; Northern Standard 9/4/09, p.27).

Hostilities continued the following month when NEPP denounced Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan as being ‘no longer fit for public office’ after he commented that the undergrounding of high voltage electricity cables is ‘not technically feasible’ during a visit to Counties Meath and Monaghan, pointing out this contradicted statements in a report the Minister had himself commissioned. (Northern Standard 28/5/09, p. 14). NEPP then blasted EirGrid for a recent press release on Danish plans to underground high-voltage pylons, saying ‘Having lost the public debate about technical feasibility and affordability of underground cables compared with giant pylons and overhead wires, EirGrid has decided to resort to downright lies and distortion.’ (Northern Standard 18/6/09, p. 6; Meath Chronicle 20/6/09, p. 15). In July EirGrid described the recent report on undergrounding of the proposed electricity interconnector commissioned by North-East Pylon Pressure (NEPP) as containing a number of ‘flawed calculations and conclusions’. In response a spokesperson for NEPP said EirGrid’s comments ‘would merit no more than a D in Junior Cert Science.’ (Northern Standard 2/7/09, p. 6; Anglo-Celt 2/7/09, p. 2; Meath Weekender 4/7/09, p. 18).

Political campaigning and traditional lobbying
In November 2008 NEPP held four public meetings in Athboy, Kells, Carrickmacross and Trim to update supporters on the latest developments regarding Eirgrid’s proposals. NEPP chairperson Francis Lally said ‘This wave of public meetings clearly signals that, far from fading away, NEPP will intensify our campaign over the coming months’. (Anglo-Celt 13/11/08, p.10; Meath Chronicle 15/11/08, p. 4) Nearly 250 people attended the meeting in Trim. Several speakers from the floor sharply criticized the Green Party’s Eamonn Ryan for failing to oppose the pylons plan, while NEPP spokesperson Liam Cahill also said last week ‘Fianna Fail and Green Party representatives were conspicuous by their absence from a recent series of grassroots meetings in the North East to update people on the campaign. Fianna Fail TDs told us clearly they will not vote for a motion in the Dail to make it national policy for EirGrid to put the cables underground, if such a motion is put down in the New year.’ (Meath Weekender 6/12/08, pp.11.16). NEPP also raised the possibility of putting forward candidates for next year’s local and European elections. (Meath Chronicle 20/12/08, p.13) Members of North east Pylon Pressure met the Minister for Power and the chief executive of EirGrid in Dublin in January 2009 to press their demands that EirGrid’s Interconnector be placed underground rather than be routed on overhead pylons. (Northern Standard 15/1/09, pp.1,4; Meath Chronicle 17/1/09, p.6)

Cross-border activity
This lobbying also crossed the border. Members of NEPP traveled to Stormont in January 2009 to take part in a protest against the north-south electricity interconnector. The protest, organized by SEAT (Safe Electricity in Armagh and Tyrone) took place on the steps of Stormont and called for the northern route for the interconnector to be buried underground. (Monaghan Post 22/1/09, pp.7,21). (for details of SEAT’s campaign see http://www.seatactiongroup.com/) In April a delegation from NEPP briefed the Northern Ireland Assembly’s Environmental Committee on the case for placing the powerlines for the north-south interconnector underground. ((Northern Standard 9/4/09, p. 27; Meath Chronicle 11/4/09, p. 17).

Changing a County Development Plan
In January 2009 Monaghan County Council created a further planning difficulty for EirGrid’s proposed Interconnector by varying the County Development Plan by restricting pylons from being placed within 100 metres of any residence, school, sports field, playground or workplace. The variation was supported unanimously by members of the County Council acting against a formal recommendation by the County Manager. (Monaghan Post 8/1/09, p.7; Northern Standard 8/1/09, p.1,8). EirGrid issued High Court proceedings seeking judicial review of the decision. (Anglo-Celt 5/3/09, p.2) Independent MEP Marian Harkin expressed concern at the taking of this judicial review, saying that, ‘if successful, [it] would mean that the democratic system would be usurped and would mean that the consultation with both the public and the elected representatives was merely a fig leaf… designed to give the impression of working together to resolve issues but ultimately it meant that the concerns of those in Cavan and Monaghan would be set aside’. (Roscommon herald 24/3/09, p. 2). The judicial review deemed the amendment unlawful. The County Manager was criticized for failing to enter a defence to the proceedings. (Northern Standard 9/4/09, pp. 1,14).

Fundraising
NEPP launched its fundraising efforts in December 2008 with the aim of accumulating a campaign fund of one million Euro. By December NEPP had spent around 400,000 Euro, 200,000 Euro of which went on the Askon report. (Meath Chronicle 20/12/08, p. 13). By March 2009 NEPP said it had raised 1.2 million Euro over the past 14 months for its campaign through voluntary contributors, including the sale of 7000 tickets at 100 Euro each for its prize draw. (Anglo-Celt 5/3/09, p.7).

Problems in the opposition
There have been some tensions inside the opposition campaign with NEPP March 2009 attacking a ‘small but vocal clique of members’ of the County Monaghan Anti-Pylon Committee (CMAPC) for trying to undermine its efforts. The disagreements with the Monaghan group related to that group’s autonomous activities, its record of financial contributions to NEPP and the party political nature of its leadership. According to NEPP ‘Despite NEPP’s equitable treatment of all three counties’ objectives, requests and concerns and despite each county being fairly represented on the NEPP core team, Monaghan has uniquely decided to maintain its own local anti-pylons county committee. This committee makes decisions and takes actions independent of NEPP, while at the same time it challenges decisions already made by NEPP.’ (Northern Standard 26/3/09, p.6). Both the County Monaghan Anti-Pylon Committee (CMACP) and county councillor Owen Bannigan (FG) responded by rejecting NEPP’s allegations. The CMACP statement said it ‘does not intend to enter into a media confrontation with NEPP… We believe it would be in neither group’s long term interest and serve only to undermine our joint common goal of having the 400kV powerlines put underground’. (Northern Standard 2/4/09, p. 36).

The route is published
A new stage in the campaign arose in April 2009 when EirGrid published details of its preferred route for the proposed north-south interconnector, stretching in Co. Monaghan from Anayalla to the west of Doohamlet, passing between Lough Egish and Shantonagh before passing into Cavan to the east of Shercock and on to Kingscourt. The Mayor of Co. Monaghan denounced the political motivation behind the announcement, saying ‘an EirGrid representative told me that the news would help elected representatives, as the families and landowners affected would be reduced when three proposed routes become one preferred route, thereby containing political opposition to the plans’. (Northern Standard 9/4/09, pp.1,2). Alas the elected councilors of Co. Meath were not grateful to EirGrid for this help, accusing EirGrid of a ‘deliberate attempt’ to deceive public representatives: ‘Only last week I, along with other councilors on the East Border Committee, met with EirGrid. At that meeting I asked if a route had been selected or, if not, what was the likely time-frame. The response was that no route had been selected and it would be some time before a decision is made. Yet, just a week later, they have announced their preferred route, with detailed maps and accompanying analysis of the route. This was not done in the space of a week and was a deliberate attempt to deceive councilors.’ (Meath Chronicle 18/4/09, p.1).

In response NEPP first held a meeting in Kells for landowners along EirGrid’s preferred route to advise them on how to deal with approaches from EirGrid representatives. (Meath Chronicle 25/4/09, p. 5) and then held another general meeting in Kells. Over 200 landowners and another 200 householders attended the information and advice meetings. NEPP also set up a Helpline and ‘text update service’ for those concerned about EirGrid’s activities at 085 281 1285. (Northern Standard 30/4/09, p. 14). NEPP then accused EirGrid of harassing landowners along the preferred route for the north-south electricity interconnector and contacted local Garda superintendents to inform them of the ‘alarm and distress’ caused –especially to older people- by the unannounced arrival of EirGrid agents. (Meath Weekender 25/4/09, p. 7; Northern Standard 23/4/09, p. 6).

The CMAPC also continued to organize locally in Monaghan where a series of meetings were attended by hundreds of people to reassert opposition to the proposed interconnector powerline through the county, while CMAPC also planned to hold a major public meeting on the issue. (Northern Standard 23/4/09, p. 6). Other public manifestations of opposition were organized. Later in April residents in the Muff, Corlea and Kilmainhamwood areas expressed their opposition to EirGrid’s proposed powerlines by congregating in significant numbers at the Muff crossroads. (Anglo-Celt 23/4/09, p. 7).

On the political front NEPP upped the pressure by writing to candidates for the European elections asking them their position on the EirGrid plan with the intention of informing their supporters of the results the week before the election. (Cavan Post 12/5/09, p. 2). In Monaghan there was political pressure also, with the County Councillors passing a resolution calling on the government to instruct EirGrid to stop work on the InterConnector and noting some 90% of the farmers and landowners along the line of the InterConnector were not interested in entering into any discussions with EirGrid (Northern Standard 14/5/09, p. 1), while at a later meeting of the Council EirGrid’s claim that it had the power to CPO land was challenged by NEPP. An EirGrid official admitted at the meeting they are suffering ‘very considerable delay’ due to public opposition, which has been added to by the formation of the Monaghan County Landowners’ Committee. (Monaghan Post 10/9/09, p. 4; Meath Chronicle 12/9/09, p. 10). Then NEPP published full-page advertisements in local papers in Counties Cavan, Meath and Monaghan making the case for undergrounding the InterConnector and in June denounced Minister for the Environment John Gormley as a hypocrite by when he presented a green flag to Robinstown National School in Co. Meath, noting ‘As part of its proposed North-South electricity projects, EirGrid wants to build giant pylons and overhead high voltage lines about 100 metres from the school… Parents, pupils and teachers have expressed concern about the dangers…’ (Meath Chronicle 27/6/09, p. 9).

NEPP launched the next phase of its campaign on August 17th with a show of strength at a public meeting in Navan attended by up to 500 people, at which IFA representatives reiterated that the IFA was ‘110% in support of the NEPP’s campaign’. (Meath Chronicle 22/8/09, p. 9; Anglo-Celt 20/8/09, p. 3)

Nationalising the debate
NEPP accused EirGrid of planning to vastly increase the number of giant pylons and high-voltage overhead lines in the country, given their plans for a new powerline from Cork to Dublin may involve erecting a further 1000 pylons. NEPP said EirGrid ‘need to tell us the exact locations and distances of all their new 110Kv, 220Kv and 400 Kv high voltage power lines so we can have a properly informed national debate about the issues involved’. (Meath Chronicle 25/7/09, p. 7).

The struggle moves into the planning process
In December 2009 EirGrid announced that it will be submitting a planning application for the North-South Interconnector directly to An Bord Pleanala in the near future, while An Bord Pleanala agreed to an EirGrid request to extend the comment period to ten weeks. NEPP called on Cavan, Meath and Monaghan county councils to make submissions to An Bord Pleanala against the InterConnector and called on other affected groups and individuals to do the same. (Meath Chronicle 19/12/09, p. 1; Anglo-Celt 17/12/09). The struggle against the InterConnector now moves into the planning process.

For previous coverage of campaigns over powerlines see
Wind wars in the hills of Donegal www.indym,edia.ie/article/94748
Oral hearing over Donegal power line www.indymedia.ie/article/91661
Victory for Bantry pylon campaign www.indymedia.ie/article/78132
ESB moves the goalposts… www.indymedia.ie/article/77675
Farmers rally in support of Bantry Bay pylon protests www.indymedia.ie/article/77026
Blockade of Bantry bullies continues www.indymedia.ie/article/77132
Opposing overhead pylons www.indymedia.ie/article/77129
The Bantry Solidarity Lodghe www.indymedia.ie/article/77026
Bury the powerlines not the people www.indymedia.ie/article/73450
Alternatives to pylons Donegal prepares to battle… www.indymedia.ie/article/71133

For groups opposing powerlines see
http://www.safelines.ie/index.html
http://www.energy-matters-amp.com/Main/HomePage
http://www.cobhonline.com/nomorepylons/
http://www.dun-na-ngall.com/atp.html
http://www.revolt.co.uk/new/links.php