News that the liquidator to Mayo Renewable Power, which planned to build a €200 biomass plant in Killala, is finalising a deal to sell the company's assets to its original backers, has been welcomed by Senator Michelle Mulherin.
Speaking this week she said: "I welcome the positive development that Michael McAteer, the Grant Thornton liquidator to the business, is in exclusive talks with the company owned by American investor Gerald Crotty and businessman Michael Ronayne to take over the assets on a going concern basis.
"As a fresh application has now been lodged with the CRU (Energy Regulator ), it is my hope and expectation that the project will be dealt with expeditiously and fairly this time, and ultimately be successful.
"For north and east Mayo, we are going to see investment in jobs and spin-off opportunities for local businesses. Beef and suckler farmers in Mayo will welcome a possible alternative income stream in growing biomass to sell to Mayo Power.
"We already have planning permission for a data centre in Killala which requires a green energy plant like the one proposed by Mayo Power, that would be a significant selling point for big data firms such as Facebook and Google.
"Along with imported biomass from North America the promoters have also entered into an agreement with Bord na Mona for an indigenous forest biomass fuel supply, a native green energy fuel source for the plant, producing power for the equivalent of 68,000 homes.
"Therefore, on a national level, Mayo Power will contribute to our national targets for renewable energy and electricity against a backdrop where we are facing fines by Europe because we are not hitting our targets.
"I have worked with the promoters of Mayo Power to date and will continue to support the realisation of the project for the economic and social benefit of North Mayo."
