by Alan Jacques
MAYOR of Limerick Cllr Kevin Sheahan has insisted that councillors must see a similar type of operation “in whatever country it’s in” as that proposed by the US company behind a multi-million euro energy generation project at the former Gortadroma landfill site before the proposal can get the green light.
The joint bid for the lease on the Ballyhahill site to develop a gasification plant and create an estimated 120 new jobs comes from Cadence Infrastructure LLC and EnvironPower Management Incorporated. Cllr Sheahan last week proposed a motion, which was supported by council members, to visit an operational gasification plant before plans go any further.
“If they are not willing to do this I am not interested in talking about this any further. The people who live there have to be happy and its time to nail this one on the head,” said the Fianna Fail councillor.
He also called for local residents to be part of any deputation to visit a gasification plant.
Limerick City and County Council’s district director for Adare-Rathkeale, Tom Gilligan, responded by saying he felt this was a reasonable proposal.
Meanwhile, Fine Gael councillor Stephen Keary suggested they should drop in unannounced on one of these gasification plants and view it from outside.
