The sheer scale of the €500m ($657m) project – which would span 11 of the Republic of Ireland’s 26 counties – all but guarantees it will prove a flashpoint for controversy as EirGrid opens a dialogue with affected communities.
But without it, “the grid in the south and east of Ireland would not be sufficient to meet the region’s future electricity needs”, says Pat Rabbitte, minister for communications, energy and natural resources.
The
