Power plant appeal over planning bid

ORGANIC POWER, an Irish project developer, will appeal a decision by Kildare County Council not to allow planning permission for construction of a 16-megawatt biomass power plant in Newbridge.

The Cork-based company proposed a plant that would burn straw and wood chips to produce electricity, Maurice McCarthy, a company director said.

It would have cost about €50 million to build, he said.

Planning officials rejected the bid because the site is not a designated industrial site, the chimney was too high and it would hurt house prices, Mr McCarthy said.

The company will look for another site as well as appealing the decision, he said.