Former Minister for Agriculture Barry Cowen has lodged an objection against a proposal to build a renewable biogas plant just outside of Tullamore, Co Offaly. According to the Tullamore Tribune newspaper, Cowen is just one of a long list of politicians in Offaly that have lodged objections to plans submitted by Strategic Power Ltd to develop a renewable biogas plant in the county.

Strategic Power Ltd applied to Offaly County Council in July this year, seeking planning permission for a new anaerobic digestion (AD) biogas plant, with an annual capacity to process up to 50,000t of feedstock such as grass silage and cattle slurry, which would be sourced from local farmers.

Strategic Power plans to build the AD plant just outside Tullamore, from where it could inject renewable, or green, biogas into the national gas grid.

However, Cowen and other local politicians in Co Offaly have objected to the development of the AD plant, stating they are concerned about the potential for odours from the site, a risk of vermin, increased noise, as well as a higher volume of traffic on the Rahan road outside Tullamore.

Renewables targets

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal on the issue, Paul Carson of Strategic Power said the company had reached out to local politicians in Offaly to discuss the planned development but had not been taken up on their offer.

"The site in Tullamore was carefully selected and meets all planning authority criteria. We have carried out a thorough environmental assessment which clearly demonstrates there are no adverse impacts on the residents of the town."

"We have reached out to local politicians and residents to openly discuss the details within the planning application and it is disappointing that on each occasion, our offer has been declined," said Carson.

The company says the development of a renewable biogas industry in Ireland was a target set out in the recent programme for government agreed by the current government parties and that it will provide new income opportunities for Irish farmers and help reduce carbon emissions.

"Strategic Power is working in partnership with farmers in Tullamore and across the country to develop multiple AD plants which bring significant and widespread benefits to the agriculture industry," said Carson.

"Our business will offer diversified income to farmers, our process will help in reducing agricultural emissions and we will produce organic fertiliser which is recognised for the advantages it brings to soil enhancement."

"Anaerobic Digestion to produce BioMethane was included as a crucial element of the coalition’s Programme For Government to help meet Ireland’s targets on climate action," he added.