Annual Report 2012.pdf (size 5.8 MB) - Offaly County Council

visitor centre and warehousing facility.Mount Lucas Wind FarmIn December 2012 Minister for Energy Pat Rabbitteturned the sod on a new wind energy project inCounty Offaly. Some 30 turbines are to be erected atMount Lucas as part of a €140 million Bord na Mónainvestment. The wind-farm will be capable ofgenerating enough energy to power 50,000 homesand over 150 people will be employed in theconstruction of the wind farm. This projectdemonstrated the potential which Offaly has for “thedevelopment of significant renewable energyprojects”.Emerging Wind Farm Sector in Offaly2012 was a good year for the emerging wind farmsector with a number of large scale announcementsrelating to a network of wind farms in Co Offaly thatcould produce electricity for export to the UK. Anumber of announcements were made by companiessuch as Mainstream Power, Element Power and Bordna Mona of their intentions to expand in this sectorcreating thousands of construction jobs and hundredsof future permanent positions. The Planning Authorityin Offaly County Council published it’s Wind Strategyin 2009 which has helped immensely in attractingcompanies to utilise the landscape of Offaly for windpower.Economic Development CommitteeOne of our more fundamental roles is buildingrelationships and working on an interagency basis togenerate sustainable employment with agencies likethe IDA, OLDC, Enterprise Ireland, Offaly CountyEnterprise Board, Shannon Development and FAS. Wework within the framework of the CountyDevelopment Board Strategy to ensure Social,Cultural and Economic Development for Offaly. Twomajor projects progressed by the Committee in 2012is:- Offaly Innovation and Design Centre- Free public Wi Fi in Tullamore, Birr and EdenderrySupport to West Offaly and North OffalyDevelopment FundThe Economic Development Office is secretary andsupport worker to both the West Offaly EnterpriseFund and the North Offaly Development Fund.Although a very difficult economic year there havebeen some positive stories. Biotricity have receivedplanning permission for a site adjacent to RhodeBusiness Park. It would be expected that they wouldact as a large draw to other companies from thatparticular industry. Biotricity will take in raw biomasssourced from forestry and agriculture crops which willbe chipped, dried and then turned into Biofuel pellets.We have also had a number of expressions ofinterests in site inside Rhode Business Park.Offaly Local Authorities Annual Report 201251