Cribbin seeks meeting with Tanaiste over energy hub

Fine Gael Cllr Noel Cribbin has sought a meeting with Tanaiste Leo Varadkar to confirm the next steps in bringing the North Offaly Green Energy Hub to life.

Cllr Cribbin was instrumental in the plan for the Green Hub to be included in the Program for Government and developments in recent weeks mean that the time has come for further action to take advantage of the massive investment and job opportunities the hub represents for Edenderry and the entire North Offaly area.

Cllr Cribbin has participated in a Zoom meeting with representatives from Bord na Mona, Deputy Charlie Flanagan, and Minister Pippa Hackett, along with Orla Martin from the Local Enterprise Office in Offaly County Council and Niall Kelly of the Cube in Portlaoise in light of proposals by BNM for a third windfarm to be located between Edenderry and Rathangan.

He proposed that energy from the proposed windfarm be used for industrial purposes which would help greatly in driving industry, particularly in the data centre space, into the region. He added that this, combined with the other six windfarms planned, along with Edenderry Power plant, has the potential to generate 1000 MW of Green Electricity - enough green energy to power all of Leinster.

Commenting on the outcome of the meeting, Cllr Cribbin said: "There was a general consensus in relation to the proposal and the decision was made to now involve Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar. I’ve emailed the Tánaiste and requested that a meeting is arranged with all stakeholders to advance this proposal. The people of Edenderry and North Offaly have had to deal with the consequences of windfarms being built on their doorsteps and now is the time for them to gain some benefit from that, with the much-needed investment and job creation that this opportunity presents."