Objections to Apple's data center in Galway

P. Breathnach

donegaLroad wrote: »

A Norwegian company were planning on setting up a specialised fish farm in Killybegs this year. The by product from the fish farmed was to be used in the manufacture of pills and tablets.. the finer points I am not 100% sure of.

You might be referring to a fish-processing facility proposed by Bio-Marine Ingredients. Not exactly a fish farm.

The company needed a few thousand square metres of sea surface area to set up the farms, they were to create 50 jobs with possibility of expansion in the near future.

It was all looking promising until An Taisce objected.


There was an appeal to this objection and I haven't heard any outcome yet.

In the meanwhile the Norwegian company were looking at setting up in Scotland instead.


Thank you An Taisce.

I can't find any of that. All I can find is that an appeal has been lodged. Can you cite any source for your claim tha Bio-Marine are thinking of going somewhere else?

MadsL

P. Breathnach wrote: »

You might be referring to a fish-processing facility proposed by Bio-Marine Ingredients. Not exactly a fish farm.

Whole other kettle of fish?

MadsL

donegaLroad wrote: »

It was all looking promising until An Taisce objected.

They objected on the basis of the project's variance with the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, an EU law the planners probably had little knowledge about. That's the one role of An Taisce, to highlight Irish and EU Environmental law and act as a watchdog of the planning process.

The way some people go on you would think it was just for sport.

Carlos Orange

MadsL wrote: »

Where did they say they would be directly investing in renewable energy. Ever hear of greenwash?

http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/32208-why-is-apple-lying-about-powering-its-data-centers-with-renewable-energy

"Apple is in fact generating 167 million kilowatt-hours of renewable energy at the facility via its two solar arrays and fuel cells."

Presumably generating 167 million kilowatt-hour of energy involves some sort of investment.

donegaLroad

MadsL wrote: »

They objected on the basis of the project's variance with the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, an EU law the planners probably had little knowledge about. That's the one role of An Taisce, to highlight Irish and EU Environmental law and act as a watchdog of the planning process.

The way some people go on you would think it was just for sport.

An Taisce was also not happy with the Environment Impact Assessment, fair enough.

The outcome of the appeal is due this Autumn which I didn't know, and in hindsight I would not have brought this subject up in this thread.

jmayo

darkpagandeath wrote: »

In a very large Urban area I have no choice in regards to pylons and all that other infrastructure. I don't live in the country and look out going look at this untouched by man's hand view. unfortunately Ireland's view is completely man made. I bet some people think filed's walls and roads were here before anyone moved over the Ireland aeon's ago. :pac:

Don't be so facetious.
We know that our environment is down to the hand of man.
But creating green fields and hedgerows, putting in roads is hardly the same as plonking a huge big building in the middle of nowhere that eats up power.

darkpagandeath wrote: »

Really where would you plan holding banking information for example in filing cabinets ? Data centres are now very valuable infrastructure. we are after all in the Information age. :pac:

Ahh yes, shure isn't all the data storage for bank records, patient data, you know important stuff. :rolleyes:

Shure inate unneeded information like twitter rants, facebook pics of somones kid's confirmation, instagram pics of some Kardashian's oversize ar**, porn flicks of some silicon enhanced LA bimbo, boards threads with soccer forum arguments, etc takes up shag all of all the world's datacenter storage.

Do you know how much of the traffic on the internet and all the world's data center storage is actually meaningful.

How much bank data does Apple hold ?
Do the banks now use icloud for backup ?

darkpagandeath wrote: »

Problem is with these NIMBY's is they would not care if it was built somewhere in Dublin.

Well maybe some would and some wouldn't.
It would be nearer other large developments, it would be nearer power and telecomms hubs etc.

BTW I can't believe on the same side of an argument as end_of_the _road and asherbassad

MadsL

psinno wrote: »

"Apple is in fact generating 167 million kilowatt-hours of renewable energy at the facility via its two solar arrays and fuel cells."

Presumably generating 167 million kilowatt-hour of energy involves some sort of investment.

There's nothing in the Galway application about them having on-site power generation:

to construct the following: a 24,505sqm single storey data centre building, a 5232sqm single storey Logistics and Administration Building, a 289sqm single storey Maintenance Building, a 16sqm Security Hut and associated barriers, 2 number 48sqm Fibre Huts (max building eaves height = 10m), 18 external standby generators, all associated external plant, a 20kV Electricity Substation, contractor facilities, a main entrance including a new right turning lane, internal access roads and associated infrastructure, proprietary waste water treatment plants including percolation areas, mains water connection, fire water storage tanks; rainwater harvesting, provision of fibre optic data connections, car parking (207 spaces, including 7 visitor spaces, 50 internal staff mobility spaces and disabled parking spaces), bike parking, an amenity walkway and associated parking, site leveling for a laydown area and a 220kV substation, 2.4m high perimeter security fencing, landscaping including supplementary tree planting and all associated works. A report for screening for Appropriate Assessment and an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be submitted with the planning application (gross floor space 30,138sqm)

The Supreme Court has reserved judgment in the case i.e. They are deferring their decision to a later date

At this stage, I think this is going to end up in the European Courts either by the Supreme Court referring the case or an appeal if they make a decision

https://www.galwaydaily.com/news/apple-athenry-saga-goes-on-as-supreme-court-reserves-judgement/