ESB to demolish West Offaly Power Station

Despite hopes locally that an alternative use would be found for the plant, the ESB has confirmed that it plans to demolish West Offaly Power Station after it closes at the end of this year.

In a short statement to the Offaly Independent this week, the ESB revealed that the €240 million euro plant's days are numbered.
“As required by our planning permission and environmental licence, the West Offaly Power Station will be demolished and the site remediated following cessation of operations.”
Cllr Eamon Dooley believes that alternative uses for the plant, which was only opened in 2005, have to be explored before it is demolished. He also predicted that the Just Transition Commission will be eager to explore what these alternatives may be.
“Maybe it can be used for other forms of energy productions such as a gas station or other alternaive forms of renewable energy.
“The ESB might think that demolition is the right thing to do, but the Just Transition Commission might say hold the pony while we look at other uses.”
Meanwhile, Bord na Mona (BNM) workers, past and present, are holding a protest march in Shannonbridge next Saturday, February 1.
Cllr Dooley, who retired from BNM a number of years ago, says that one of the main objectives of the protest is to highlight people's concerns about their security of their pensions as the firm's decarbonisation process continues.
“Bord na Mona pensioners are very worried that their pensions are not protected and that this should be included in any plan.
“There are more BNM pensioners than workers now. There are 1,900 pensioners and the current annual pensions bill is €12m. 
It's been estimated that within a few years this will increase to 2,500 and more than €15m.”
Despite the firm's board's stating that the pension scheme is viable, Cllr Dooley says that many former It's been estimated that within a few years this will increase to 2,500 and more than €15m.”
Despite the firm's board's stating that the pension scheme is viable, Cllr Dooley says that many former workers, including himself, doubt this. 
“People want to make sure that their pension is protect whether it is through the PSO, carbon tax fund, or a Just Transition fund from Europe. They don't mind how it happens as long as it is protected.”
Next Saturday's march is scheduled to start from outside the River Cafe, Shannonbridge at 2.30pm.  
BNM Group of Unions official Willie Noone says that with the number of people drawing down their pensions in the coming years set to increase significantly in the coming years while the amount of workers making contributions falls, there are growing fears that the firm's pension sheme will become insolvent.
"If the company is so sure that the pension sheme is okay they should use one of their assets, such as a wind farm, as security to underpin it," he says.