Biomass firm refused planning for €75m plant

A MONAGHAN company’s plans to build a €75 million biomass plant, that could have supplied 45% of the county’s electrical needs, has been scuppered by An Bord Pleanála.

Monopower Ltd, a company owned by Aiden and Maurice McCarron, wanted to build the 22.5 megawatt biomass plant in Emyvale, Co Monaghan.

But the company was told the project was refused permission on two grounds — an inadequate road network and water run off from the proposed operation would create a public hazard.