Extracts from the RTS Dossier on: The Laois - Kilkenny Reinforcement - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Extracts from the RTS Dossier on: The Laois - Kilkenny Reinforcement Project 18th January 2018 Presentation to Ministers Naughten and Flanagan There are many other issues, technical and legal flaws involved in this project. For simplicity these are not presented here. Further detail can be provided on request. 1

BUT FIRST........A QUESTION 2

26th October 2009 - First Public Notice but, the public were actually the last to know…… note this ‘X’ as a reference point for maps on next slides This is where the existing 400kV and 110kV lines cross at Loughteeogue The notice below gives the impression that the process is only beginning… but already completed http://www.eirgridprojects.com/media/EIRG017%2021x7%20MockUp.pdf 3

26th October 2009 - 1st Public Information Note this Date!! We were told the project is to facilitate a new 110kv line to Kilkenny 4

2009 - RTS Discover "FUTUREPROOFING" of Substation We discovered the substation in Laois would be huge with a large number of connection points. This information was not volunteered, this was discovered through our own research. We asked why so many spare connections? We asked again and again for meetings but EirGrid refused to meet with our community locally. 5

2010 - FUTUREPROOFING - for what? Leinster Express 18th May. 2010 but no information... Leinster Express 22nd June 2010 6

2013 - FUTUREPROOFING plans known but withheld Despite an oral hearing and court case, known information was withheld. Leinster Express 10th March 2013 .....still no information... We had to find all the following information ourselves ......and it is damning!! 7

There is a Legal Obligation to Inform the Public Without information there can be no real participation!! (some relevant extracts from the Aarhus Convention) Article 2 (5). “The public concerned” means the public affected or likely to be affected by, or having an interest in, the environmental decision-making; .... Article 6 (6). Each Party shall require the competent public authorities to give the public concerned access for examination, upon request where so required under national law, free of charge and as soon as it becomes available, to all information relevant to the decision-making referred to in this article that is available at the time of the public participation procedure, ... 8

June / July 2009 - Europe already knew This project was a Fait Accompli - location decided Europe already knew about this project - specifically named location! ‘Loughteeog’ 9

August 2009 - An Bord Pleanala already knew This project was a Fait Accompli - location decided, routes decided, futureproofing for renewables and 'Other Networks' Other Networks in the Midlands? FOR RENEWABLES! Routes decided and environmental reports being prepared! 10

August 2009 - Laois County Council already knew This project was a Fait Accompli - location decided, routes decided They started with the answer incl. routes… and drew the study area around it. Entire 'consultation' was a farce. Decisions already made. 11

BUT IT GETS WORSE....... this project is part of the failed wind export project The Laois-Kilkenny project should have died long ago along with GridWest and GridLink. 12

We Discovered more 'FUTUREPROOFING' EirGrid withheld information about extra powerlines 4 extra lines - forecast by 2020 in the RTS area EirGrid planned for this as far back - never mentioned by EirGrid as 2008 and cumulative impact not assessed! October 2010 Extract from Eirgrid Presentation Mark Norton showing grid development at 2020 Note This Name!! 13

November 2013 We presented all of this information and more to the An Bord Pleanala Oral Hearing 14

November 2013 - EirGrid make false Statement to Planning Oral Hearing EirGrid state - The Project is NOT FOR RENEWABLES. (stated in presence of EirGrid legal team who strongly controlled and influenced oral hearing) Not True! 15

AN BORD PLEANALA / EIRGRID CAN'T BE TRUSTED • April 2014 - An Bord Pleanala GRANT PLANNING PERMISSION Despite all the previous evidence and more. • 2014 - RTS take costly and stressful Judicial Review. • January 2015 - Case lost. ABP & Eirgrid tell court they will not look for costs. • January 2015 - RTS group notify intention to appeal. • 28th January 2015 - RTS Group ambushed and threatened out of court appeal by state authorities (using costs as a threat) In a search for justice we had to go outside Ireland • 2015 March - RTS Group meet European Commission and subsequently lodge complaint. Evidenced complaint accepted. • 2015 - RTS submit complaint to the UN-Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee. Evidenced complaint Accepted 16

EirGrid CAN'T BE TRUSTED! November 2013 EirGrid told oral hearing The Project is "not to facilitate the connection of renewable generation" 30th January 2013 - EirGrid finalise report connecting Wind export project to Laois GRID25 project. One of ONLY 4 connection points in the whole country!! EirGrid knew but withheld this information. 4th December 2013 - Did Fintan Slye mislead the Dáil too when he said " none of the projects in the Grid25 programme are connected with or have anything to do with the wind export projects" *, *Electricity Transmission Network: Discussion with EirGrid (Continued) Wednesday, 4 December 2013 Dáil Joint Committee on Transport and Communications Debate 17

EirGrid CAN'T BE TRUSTED! November 2013 EirGrid told oral hearing The Project is "not to facilitate the connection of renewable generation" January 2013 - EirGrid knew Coolnabacca-Portlaoise uprate project necessary for wind export project but withheld this. Cumulative environmental impact never assessed. 18

EirGrid CAN'T BE TRUSTED! November 2013 EirGrid told oral hearing The Project is "not to facilitate the connection of renewable generation" 18th May 2016 - Pinewoods windfarm says " following detailed discussions with EirGrid, it has been agreed " that the windfarm can connect to the Laois-Kilkenny Project EirGrid negotiating behind our backs to connect renewables to the substation 19

EirGrid CAN'T BE TRUSTED! November 2013 EirGrid told oral hearing The Project is "not to facilitate the connection of renewable generation" 27th September 2017 - 300 acre solar farm says EirGrid will build connection for them to Laois-Kilkenny Project EirGrid negotiating behind our backs to connect renewables to the substation 20

EirGrid CAN'T BE TRUSTED! • All of our concerns are proven to be valid. • But EirGrid, a state company, put us through an extended planning process and court case without disclosing the truth. • When we tried to appeal - state authorities used their access to public money to threaten us out of court. • During the pretend 'consultation', the Chairman of our group was sent a threatening solicitors letter for holding a phone on his own property. See planning inspectors report page 52 21

EIRGRID / AN BORD PLEANALA CAN'T BE TRUSTED Why were Fire Risk / Accidents ignored after we raised it? Risk is real but was not considered! This same substation went on fire twice i.e. even heavily monitored situations are a risk example of substation fires 22

EirGrid / An Bord PLeanála CAN'T BE TRUSTED! November 2013 EirGrid told oral hearing; Groundwater safe because the sands and gravels on the site are not saturated BUT EirGrid's Ground investigations completed during driest periods. ABP ignored our concerns and relied on EirGrid info. Nov. 2013 - RTS presentation to Oral Hearing Water Table is only 1m below ground level 23

AN BORD PLEANALA CAN'T BE TRUSTED Why did An Bord Pleanala rely on out-of-date maps for GROUNDWATER RISK? Approx. Location of substation New map (above) shows larger areas of high groundwater vulnerability! This updated map was published in December 2013. Planning granted in April 2014. 24

EIRGRID / ESB CAN'T BE TRUSTED April 2017 - RTS catch EirGrid Red-handed - Unauthorised Development EirGrid breach extensive planning conditions + Construct elements for which no planning even applied for + Exceeded depth of excavations stated in planning application (max depth 2.4m but went approx. 4 m. Significant due to aquifer!) + LCC knew in advance No independent baseline studies. We still don't know if the aquifer is damaged. 25

April 2017 - Unauthorised Development; V. Low Rainfall but site wet Groundwater is at risk! According to met-eireann, in April 2017; "All monthly rainfall totals across the country were below their Long-Term Average (LTA)” "Mullingar reporting … its driest April since the station opened in 1950.” See chart below which shows that Oak Park, Carlow had only 28% of its long term average rainfall 26

EIRGRID's PUBLIC STATEMENTS CAN'T BE TRUSTED June 2017 - EirGrid Response to being caught 1. Blame others Infrastructure Agreement clearly states EirGrid are responsible for all aspects of planning permission 2. Untrue some of the works commenced had never even been part of the original planning application 3. Speedily remove evidence Laois County Council instructed speedy removal allowing EirGrid to remove evidence without complying with planning conditions 27