Nepp

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Natural Resources & Agriculture Submission from the North East Pylon Pressure Campaign (NEPPC)

Full text of NEPPC submission to Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Natural Resources & Agriculture

Continue February 28, 2012

Joint Oireachtas Committee hears that undergrounding North-South interconnector is feasible, affordable, acceptable and achievable.

Full cost comparisons reveal undergrounding cheaper than the pylons approach

On Tuesday 21st February last, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Natural Resources & Agriculture held hearings related to the recently published Meath-Tyrone report by the Government appointed International Expert Commission. The Committee received submissions from a number of organizations, including the Commission experts, EirGrid and NEPPC, all of which reviewed the feasibility and cost of undergrounding the North-South interconnector.

The main findings and discussions strongly support the long standing position of NEPPC that the North-South interconnector can and should be undergrounded.

The International Expert Commission reiterated the conclusions of their report, stating that undergrounding the North-South interconnector is now a ‘realistic solution’, using latest HVDC technology. They further stated that there is movement across Europe to higher acceptance of this technology as a practical alternative to overhead lines. From a cost perspective the experts highlighted that there is a tendency towards the price gap between overhead and underground costs to be reducing all of the time, with latest contract costs confirming this trend.

EirGrid, however, remains steadfast in its refusal to accept the underground alternative, because of the ‘unique set of challenges’ posed by the current grid structure, despite the statement by EirGrid CEO, Mr Dermot Byrne,that “the issue of general community acceptance is at the heart of this matter”.

NEPPC, for its part, highlighted the results of some key research and reports it had commissioned:

1. In 2009, a route specific study was performed to estimate the loss of property and land value along the proposed route for planning. This very detailed analysis reported that property losses could be expected to total €387Million and farm devaluation losses of €651Million. Even allowing for a 50% reduction in both property and land values the combined devaluation and potential liability figure is nevertheless still over €500M.
2. The delays incurred in upgrading the grid also carry a significant cost element. Chambers of Commerce Ireland estimates this at circa €30Million per year. This was confirmed by EirGrid during the hearing as already running at €150 Million over the last 5 years, for this project alone.
3. “Taking these costs into account the overhead line option is significantly more expensive than the underground alternative, ranging from 2 to 4 times, depending on what level of property and land devaluations is chosen”, stated Bernie Andrew, spokesperson for NEPPC. “When you factor in all of the additional costs associated with overhead lines that are not covered in this report it makes the undergrounding option economically justified and viable and thus affordable”.

Councillor John Farrelly, Fine Gael, and chairman of Meath Tourism, highlighted the potentially significant negative impact on our landscape and heritage and on our tourism industry, should overhead lines go ahead.”There are thousands of jobs to be created, provided we protect our heritage and our landscape”, stated Councillor Farrelly.”EirGrid should be forced to change its policy and to place all cables underground”.

1. Health effects from proximity to pylons are the key public concern. As evidenced from many international studies the overwhelming majority of people believe that electro-magnetic fields (EMF) emitted from overhead electricity lines adversely affect their health. Underground cable systems solve both the health and proximity to property concerns.
2. The key players in terms of acceptability are affected landowners. NEPPC carried out a comprehensive survey of such landowners along the proposed route. Some crystal clear messages were recorded. Ninety nine percent of landowners “Object Strongly” to EirGrid’s plans for overhead transmission lines. Ninety nine percent of landowners “Prefer Underground Cables” as an acceptable alternative. It is encouraging to note that 89% have stated they “Would permit their land to be crossed by underground cables”.

“Now that a realistic and cost effective alternative to overhead lines exists, landowners will never accept the overhead lines option. EirGrid persists in trying to sell a product nobody wants to buy” stated Aimée Treacy, chairperson of NEPPC.

“Imagine a scenario where one of the most important and necessary infrastructure projects proceeds in a structured and progressive manner, with optimum cost-benefit efficiencies and with a spirit of cooperation and goodwill between all stakeholders involved” she stated.

“Imagine the message that this will send out to our international business community, and indeed to the European Commission who are desperate to see better progress on prioritised infrastructure. This indeed would herald the beginning of a new era. This is the prize that is waiting to be grasped by taking the courageous but right decision to use the latest undergrounding technologies as a core component of the Grid 25 rollout”, she further stated.

Ends –

Further information: Michael Keane, Insight Consultants
01 2939976 or 086 8244500

February 28, 2012

Independent Study Report vindicates NEPPC case for undergrounding as a realistic solution

Download Report Here on International Expert Commission Report on North South Interconnector (*PDF 13MB)

The Minister for Energy, Pat Rabbitte T.D., has today brought to Government and published the report on the International Expert Commission which he had established in July 2011 to “review and report, within six months, on a case for, and cost of, undergrounding (all or part of) Meath-Tyrone 400KV power lines”.

The North Easy Pylon Pressure Campaign (NEPPC) welcomes the initiative taken by Fine Gael, spearheaded by Minister Shane McEntee, to engage a set of respected international experts to independently examine the feasibility and cost of undergrounding the North-South interconnector. NEPPC also welcomes the establishment of this expert group by Minister Rabbite and his decision that the report will have the opportunity to be objectively  analysed and discussed by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture, prior to a Cabinet recommendation.

The Report is of significant value to the two key arguments surrounding the use undergrounding technology, namely feasibility and cost.
NEPPC have argued from the outset that undergounding the North-South interconnector was feasible, given the technological advances happening at a rapid pace. The Expert Report states quite clearly that undergrounding the North-South interconnector is now a ‘realistic solution’. This is primarily driven by ‘significant technical developments and a commercial breakthrough’ of the most recently developed VSC HVDC technology.

The Independent Expert group focused solely on technical costs of undergrounding versus overhead lines options. It did not examine other critical costs such as impact on agriculture, land and property devaluation, impact on landscape and visual consequences, or on the comparative health aspects of these options.

From the outside of the North-South interconnector project EirGrid refused to examine the undergrounding option, stating that it could be in the region of 25x higher than overhead lines. The Report published indicates a figure of €286Million for undergrounding which is equal to EirGrid’s stated costs for overhead lines for the North – South interconnector (€280M) at assumed power loading expectations.

‘When you factor in all the additional costs associated with overhead lines that are not covered in this report it makes the undergrounding option economically justified and viable’ stated Aimée Treacy, chairperson of NEPPC.

‘Furthermore, the Report clearly highlights that undergrounding is the only practical and publicly acceptable way forward for the vast majority of current major projects in Europe’, she stated. The Report notes that within the EU over 2,470km of Overhead lines are presently substantially delayed (only 450km are under construction), whilst some 700km of underground cables are currently under construction.  This is nearly twice as much going underground as on pylons’.
‘Technological progress is opening up a whole new opportunity for the grid to be upgraded using undergrounding’, she further stated.
‘ This Report clearly shows that it is “game on” in terms of undergrounding technology for Ireland, and we are confident that the Minister will now give undergrounding serious consideration as a key component of the ‘Grid 25’ project’ stated Aimée.

Ends –
Further information:
Michael Keane, Insight Consultants
01 2939976 or 086 8244500
www.nepp.ie

January 18, 2012

Download Report on International Expert Commission Report on North South Interconnector

Download Report Here on International Expert Commission Report on North South Interconnector (*PDF 13MB)

January 18, 2012

NEPP Public Meeting Nov 1st, Ardboyne Navan

TUESDAY 1st NOVEMBER 2011, ARDBOYNE HOTEL 8.30 pm, Update on Fine Gael financial committments; Update on EirGrid planning application; Update on landowner rights; Important to attend. Please spread the word!

Continue October 24, 2011