In my previous life as an agricultural reporter, I remember the excitement caused by a proposal five years ago to convert the ESB’s coal- and oil-fired Moneypoint power plant to burn biomass. It quickly emerged that the idea had been floated by an anti-wind energy lobby group in conjunction with an oil and gas company and would involve 8 per cent of Ireland’s farmland to grow energy crops if it was to avoid imports. Thankfully, it didn’t catch on. For years, what to do with the Co Clare plant has been the question that crystallised the evident need to move…

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