Press Conference to highlight Ennis Data Centre’s 66 diesel generators ‘threat to human health’

Press Release - Friends of the Irish Environment - 20th Aug 2022

Ennis Data Centre’s 66 gas generators ‘threat to Local Health’ – expert

Ennis Data Centre will add ‘nearly 1%’ to Ireland’s nitrous oxide emissions

A gas plant consisting of 66 generators required under the planning permission for the Ennis data centre is a ‘threat to local health’, the public will be told at a forthcoming Press Conference.

Organised by members of the local community as well as an alliance of local and national environmental groups, Professor David Carpenter of the Institute for Health and the Environment at the University at Albany will outline the effects of the 66 diesel generators that are required for the data centre backup power. According to the environmental impact report (EPIR) submitted by the applicant during the planning process, nearly 1% of Ireland’s total nitrous oxide (NOx) emissions are predicted to come from this development.

Press Release
Saturday 20 August 2022
Immediate Release

Ennis Data Centre’s 66 gas generators ‘threat to Local Health’ – expert

Ennis Data Centre will add ‘nearly 1%’ to Ireland’s nitrous oxide emissions

A gas plant consisting of 66 generators required under the planning permission for the Ennis data centre is a ‘threat to local health’, the public will be told at a forthcoming Press Conference.

Organised by members of the local community as well as an alliance of local and national environmental groups, Professor David Carpenter of the Institute for Health and the Environment at the University at Albany will outline the effects of the 66 diesel generators that are required for the data centre backup power. According to the environmental impact report (EPIR) submitted by the applicant during the planning process, nearly 1% of Ireland’s total nitrous oxide (NOx) emissions are predicted to come from this development.

New data centres are being required to use their backup power when national supply is constrained. Future Proof Clare will explain that ‘the diesel generators will need to spin up and down to match supply on the grid as the demand from the data centre is inflexible. The particulate and NOx emissions from generators cycling like this can be two to five times higher than under constant operation. By approving this planning application, Clare County Council has abdicated its responsibility to safeguard the health and wellbeing of those living in Ennis and beyond.’

Professor Carpenter will highlight the danger to public health of Nitrogen oxide NOx) and the more than 40 toxic air contaminants (many known or suspected cancer-causing substances, such as benzene, arsenic, and formaldehyde), greenhouse gases, particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and sulfur dioxide (SO2) released by the use of deisel generators.

At the press conference, a panel of experts will join Professor Carpenter including Declan Owens of Eco Justice Ireland and physicist Ruairi Ó Fathaigh. The Conference will take place on Monday, August 22 at 1 PM at the Temple Gate Hotel in Ennis.

SEE LINK TO FULL PRESS RELEASE HERE:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NnWZekOTog1ee4N2KlAFkDuJXt2SRHuSb53cCTwExqQ/edit?usp=sharing


For further comment please contact:
Tim Hannon
Futureproof Clare
Tel: 083-1969256
www.facebook.com/FutureproofC

This Press Release
https://www.friendsoftheirishenvironment.org/press-releases/18214-ennis-data-centre-s-66-gas-generators-threat-to-local-health-expert