Community renewable energy project sought on Bord na Móna land

A West Offaly voluntary group is bidding to build a major renewable energy project on lands which are currently in the ownership of Bord na Móna.

An information briefing for local elected representatives which was organised by the Ferbane-based An Siolán group in Tullamore recently heard that Bord na Móna currently controls one eight of the entire land mass in Offaly, amounting to 27,00 hectares of peatland.

Chairperson of An Siolán Brian Flynn told the briefing that much of the Offaly land was transferred to Bord na Móna from small landowners in the community for “as little as seven shillings and six pence an acre, often using compulsory purchase orders.”

He added that, if the transition away from peat-based energy generation is to be a Just Transition, the communities which are most affected “must be supported to create the jobs that will ensure their sustainability.” A community-owned renewable energy project on Offaly land would be “an appropriate tool to generate the revenues required,” he said.

An Siolán is working in close conjunction with Offaly County Council on the proposal which would see the development of community-owned renewable energy assets – either wind or solar – being built on “a tiny percentage” of the peatlands under the control of Bord na Móna in Offaly, with the semi-State company “facilitating” the development, according to Mr Flynn.

The An Siolán chairperson also explained that all revenues generated from the project would be used solely for the “rejuvenation of the communities most impacted by Just Transition” with a primary focus on “enterprise support and job creation” across the whole of county Offaly.

With Bord na Móna set to develop over 1,200 megawatts of renewable power in Offaly over the coming years, in addition to what they already own, An Siolán says it is essential that the communities in which these assets are located can benefit from “the economic windfall.”

The group has already held a number of meetings with Bord na Móna in the hope of advancing their proposal, and have also requested the company to consider other forms of co-operation, such as ringfencing generation assets or energy income for local communities to be used for enterprise, education or voluntary projects.

“These projects would be co-ordinated by the local authority, based on the successful West Offaly Enterprise Fund model, funded by the ESB in the aftermath of the Ferbane Power Station closure” said Brian Flynn.

Director of An Siolán and joint treasurer, Danny Gleeson, acknowledged the attendance of a large number of public representatives from Offaly at last week's information briefing, including Minister of State, Pippa Hackett; Deputy Barry Cowen and Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council, Cllr Eddie Fitzpatrick. He thanked them for their commitment to contact government representatives, the Department of the Environment and Bord na Móna in a bid to advance the proposal put forward by the West Offaly community group.

Minister Hackett said the meeting had provided her with “a clearer understanding” of the challenges facing communities who want to take part in the renewable energy transition and the potential of community energy projects to drive local enterprise.

“These communities need to be supported” she said, adding that she would continue to work with her government colleagues, while Deputy Barry Cowen also signalled his support for the ambitious initiative. “I will, with colleagues, work to find a means by which government can provide a mechanism to ensure Bord na Mona gift or lease lands to community groups that engage in renewable energy projects” he said.

Public representatives at the meeting undertook to seek assurances from Bord na Mona, the government, and the Department of the Environment that Bord na Móna landholdings, generation assets of generation capacity will be "sold off to third party investors" to the detriment of the communities where these assets are located.

Meanwhile, Fine Gael Cllr for the Edenderry area, Cllr Noel Cribbin, has said a group in North Offaly has “joined forces” with An Siolán to create a new group called 'Offaly Community Energy' which will work alongside Offaly County Council, Oireachtas members and other key stakeholders to “explore opportunities for community energy projects for the benefit of all those living in Offaly.”