INTERCONNECTOR PLANNING PERMISSION GRANTED IN NORTHERN IRELAND –

SONI and EirGrid hail decision but anti-pylon campaigners condemn lack of consent

The Northern Ireland Minister for Infrastructure Nicola Mallon MLA announced on Monday that she was granting full planning permission for the construction of the 400kV overhead electricity line that forms the Northern element of the controversial North- South electricity interconnector project. Minister Mallon said the project would “support the future growth of renewable energy generation” and would invigorate the North’s recovery from the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. SONI, the electricity system operator for Northern Ireland, welcomed Minister Mallon’s “positive decision”, a reaction mimicked by SONI’s Republic of Ireland …