Underground power lines option to get expert review

The Minister for Energy Pat Rabbitte has announced that the Cabinet has agreed to his proposal to establish an international expert commission to review and report, within six months, on a case for, and cost of, undergrounding all or part of the controversial Meath-Tyrone 400kV power lines. The decision has been welcomed Meath East TD and Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Shane McEntee, a long-term campaigner against the overground lines. Minister Rabbitte said last week: "This decision implements a commitment in the Programme for Government. It will afford an opportunity for careful consideration of the issues at stake. "In the next few days, I will finalise and announce the composition of the three-person expert commission. I expect that the group will complete its work by October of this year." As of yesterday (Tuesday), Mr Rabbitte had not announced the three members of the commission. In preparing its report, the expert commission will review expert literature already available both in Ireland and internationally in relation to undergrounding high voltage power lines, consider the route or routes proposed by EirGrid, examine the case for and cost of undergrounding all or part of the 400kV line, consult with EirGrid and the North East Pylon Pressure Committee and whichever other bodies or organisations it sees fit. The case for the actual provision of the Meath-Tyrone power line is not subject to review. Shane McEntee said that Pat Rabbitte's decision to establish the independent commission is the first major breakthrough in the long campaign by the people of the north-east who advocate underground cabling of the interconnector on grounds of long-term cost, health, environment and tourism. "I commend my colleague for his decisive action in setting up the international commission and in giving it clear terms of reference. This announcement fulfils an important commitment we gave in the Programme for National Government last March," said Deputy McEntee. He added: "The interconnector is a key strategic project for the economies and consumers, North and South of the border. It is also critical to ensuring adequate supplies of energy on the entire island. I fully support the need for the interconnector. "I welcome the commitment to consult with the North-East Pylon Pressure Campaign and the Monaghan Anti-Pylon Committee." He said the real issue with the proposed North-South project is that EirGrid is trying to build a conventional interconnector while, at the same time, attempting to reinforce the grid in the region using the interconnector. "The most sensible and, indeed, most cost-effective alternative would be for them to decouple the two objectives. "They could reinforce the north-east network by increasing the number of lines carried on the existing pylons, while building an underground DC interconnector to County Tyrone, similar to one that will shortly be completed from Wales to County Meath," he said. "I hope that this suggestion is something the international expert commission will look at very closely," he said.