Papers Today

// State's chief scientist backs eco plan to flood valleys

Spirit of Ireland, the group behind a plan to flood valleys along the western seaboard in an attempt to make the country energy-independent, has received the backing of the state's chief scientific adviser, despite concerns from some environmentalists.

Patrick Cunningham, a state appointee, has written to Brian Cowen, the taoiseach, tanaiste Mary Coughlan, and Eamon Ryan, the energy minister, describing the wind and hydro-energy project as worthy of their "urgent attention".

Writing in April 2009, Cunningham said the proposal could achieve "a transformation in our economic future".

"This is an important opportunity to solve some of the country's strategic energy requirements, to enable Ireland to meet its obligations under the Kyoto protocol, and to underpin the international competitiveness of our economy for decades into the future," he said.

Other documents released under Freedom of Information show that the project team, which includes Igor Shvets, an applied physics professor at Trinity College Dublin, and Graham O'Donnell, an electrical engineer, informed the government that it has acquired the services of John Rogers, a former attorney-general, to prepare "draft-enabling legislation for government consideration".

Last week Spirit of Ireland appeared before an Oireachtas committee to discuss its plans, and it will meet Ryan tomorrow. Some environmentalists are concerned about the extent and viability of the proposals. They have expressed fears that the organisation's reference to "draft-enabling legislation" indicates they may attempt to bypass planning laws in a bid to speed up the project.

Tony Lowes, director of Friends of the Irish Environment, said Cunningham's letter of support was lacking in "serious analysis or consideration of potential adverse environmental impacts".

He said the project "appears at first glance to have some credibility" but it was "a fairy story". Lowes warned that if normal planning procedures were bypassed, people would not have a chance to object to the flooding of up to 80km2 of land and the erection of thousands of wind turbines and national-grid pylons.

Spirit of Ireland refused to comment last week. Its plan involves combining large-scale wind farms with huge hydro-power storage reservoirs, which, it claims, can meet Ireland's energy needs and even produce enough to sell abroad.

The project requires the flooding of at least two, but up to five, coastal valleys from Donegal to Kerry, and the building of dams as hydro back-up to wind power. When wind speeds are too low, water pumped into the reservoirs is released through turbines. The group is understood to be concerned that the protection of private property could delay the project, which would have to be connected to the national grid.

An Taisce, the national trust, said it should be "pushed through for the good of the nation". Seán Barrett, a Fine Gael TD and head of the Oireachtas committee on climate change, said the idea was "very worthwhile" and that there was a need to look at a new approach to planning permission to speed it up.

The Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, which has met with the group twice in the past year, said the plan was "conceptually very interesting" and that it has "an open door to the promoters in terms of discussing the project".

John Gibbons, the founder of climatechange.ie, said the government should consider compulsory legislation to speed up the plan. He said finding a long-term energy source was a national emergency and that the Spirit of Ireland project could take decades to realise.

"If you flood a valley with water, you're going to change the landscape. But you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs," he said.

"If you're happy to sit in the dark, object away."
Eithne Shortall
(C) Sunday Times