A £300 million north-south electricity interconnector faces a Northern Ireland high court battle on April 9 because campaigners want construction to stop. More than 6,500 residents from Armagh and Tyrone through their 150 landowner representatives oppose the towering pylon network because they believe it serves only to meet growing energy needs of the Republic of Ireland especially its datacentres.
The group Safe Electricity Armagh and Tyrone (SEAT) demands underground construction of the interconnector because they believe environmental damage and loss of scenic beauty and decreased land and property values represent major issues. The group maintains Northern Ireland functions as a sacrifice zone to make up for southern Ireland’s decades-long failed energy planning efforts.
John Woods who leads the campaign and operates Linwoods Health Foods maintains the infrastructure will transfer valuable renewable energy from Northern Ireland to other regions without providing sufficient benefits to the region. The System Operator for Northern Ireland (SONI) supports the project through its essential role in achieving net-zero targets and minimizing energy waste while saving consumers £19 million each year.
The judicial review’s outcome has the potential to both delay the project by years and transform the island’s energy strategy because construction has begun and planning permission faces expiration.
