by Kathy Masterson
PLANS to develop a state-of-the-art gasification plant at the former Gortadroma landfill have advanced further after Limerick City and County Council agreed to lease the site to an American company.
Cadence EnvironPower hopes to build a plant that would convert waste into gas, which would employ approximately 150 people and generate rent of €120 million over the course of the 30 year lease.
As well as an annual rent of €4 million, the company would also pay a community contribution of €100,000 a year that would be used for local development projects, if the project goes ahead.
In addition, when the agreement to the lease is signed, a signing fee of €50,000 is to be paid to Limerick City and County Council.
A number of Adare Rathkeale area councillors, as well as the Council’s head of finance Tom Gilligan and two local residents, recently travelled to France to view a similar facility.
Speaking at this month’s meeting of the local authority, Cllr Ciara McMahon (SF) said she was “very impressed” with the plant and told the meeting: “I have family living less than one mile from the site, so I’m certainly not going to support something that might put them in danger. I’m happy to support this project to the next level and see where it can go.”
Cllr Richard O’Donoghue (FF), also said he was happy to endorse the project. He added: “I was very impressed with how it works. I was very impressed with the noise levels; the plant was very noisy, but if you walked 20 metres away from it you could hardly hear it.”
Cllr Stephen Keary (FG) gave the project his seal of approval, noting that it had many positives, such as relieving dependence on fossil fuels and providing energy for 50,000 to 60,000 homes.
“All going well with environment and planning, we will hopefully see 140 jobs created out there,” remarked Mayor Kevin Sheahan.
Cllr Joe Leddin (LAB) asked if the former landfill site at Longpavement, which has been closed since 2002, could be considered as a potential location for a similar facility.
Meanwhile, Cllr Cian Prendiville (AAA) called for a full presentation on the plans to be delivered to the full council before a decision was made, however the majority of council members voted against his proposal.
He said: “This is a very new and in some ways experimental technology, and these plants have been very controversial in other areas.”
Cllr Prendiville added that he has concerns about “handing responsibility for this hugely profitable, and potentially dangerous system over to a private, for-profit company”.
Cllr Emmett O’Brien (IND) said that Cllr Prendiville’s concerns “were raised repeatedly” in Adare Rathkeale area meetings and noted “what’s important is there is unanimous support for this from the councillors of the area”.
