Media Release from North East Pylon Pressure Campaign (NEPPC)
08 October 2015
Communities in North-East outraged by continued
discrimination with North-South Interconnector Project
410 pylons still planned for North-East, 750 pylons dropped for rest of
country
The announcement today by the Independent Expert Panel (IEP) and the
statement by EirGrid that it is dropping plans to erect 750 pylons in the Grid Link
project in favour of an alternative option using ‘Series compensation’ highlights
yet again the discrimination and injustice being meted out to the communities in
the North-East.
North East Pylon Pressure Campaign (NEPPC) wishes to make the following
statements:

The North-South Interconnector Project (NSIP) was excluded by this
Government from a detailed analysis of undergrounding , as laid out in its
original terms of reference. Grid Link and Grid West were afforded such
analysis. Claims by EirGrid that the NSIP has been properly analysed for
an underground alternative are misleading and dishonest.

For the last 4 years EirGrid has stated that there was an absolute
requirement, to achieve the Grid Link project, for 750 pylons to be erected
between Kildare and Cork, at a cost of €550 M and that there was no
other feasible option. Recently, under mounting public and political
pressure it has announced that it needs zero pylons, but will use the
existing technology of ‘series compensation’ at a cost of c.€200M. How
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can there be any technical or commercial confidence in a company that
makes a complete U-turn on grid strategy overnight?

The IEP was asked to examine underground and overhead line options. It
was never asked to examine ‘series compensation’. EirGrid’s U-turn has
made a mockery of the IEP’s remit and work carried out to date. ‘Series
Compensation’ is not new technology, it was available to be examined
from the outset but was never included, until public pressure came to
bear. This technology has never been independently examined for the
NSIP.

The reality for the people of the North-East is that the NSIP has been
systematically excluded from a proper analysis of alternatives (see Table
1) other than using the old and negative technology of overhead lines and
pylons. This unjust and illogical decision will not be accepted by local
communities. The completely dismissive approach taken by our local
Government elected representatives and by the DCENR will only lead to
major confrontation.

The decision by EirGrid to proceed to planning without a proper
undergrounding analysis is a clear statement of contempt for the
communities affected and for the democratic process.

NEPPC wishes to send out a message, in the strongest terms possible,
that the affected communities will not stand for this unjust, unfair and
unnecessary application from EirGrid.
North East Pylon Pressure Campaign Limited
087- 680 36 66
pjboreilly@eircom.net
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Table 1: Process and public engagement comparison of 400kv ‘Grid 25’ projects
East-West
Grid-Link
Grid West
North-South
400kV
400kV
400kV
400kV
YES
YES
YES
NO
along public roads
YES
YES
YES
NO
Feedback period from public
YES
YES
YES
NO
Liaison with local authorities
YES
YES
YES
NO
Liaison with NRA
YES
YES
YES
NO
YES
YES
YES
NO
YES
YES
YES
NO
YES
YES
YES
NO
YES
YES
YES
NO
YES
YES
YES
NO
YES
YES
YES
NO
Undergrounding Criteria Plans
Identify route alongside existing
public roads
Select emerging preferred route
Liaison
with
other
relevant
agencies
Landowner information brochure
on underground route option
Public consultation process on
underground route option
Letter and maps to landowners of
underground route option
Route
chosen
with
lowest
environmental impact
Recommended use of
cable technology
HVDC
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