Tag Archives: environment

The Waiting Game continues

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What’s going on with our case….?

Essentially, we have no news since our last update, and we continue to wait for a decision from ACP (formally ABP).

Those of you following progress will remember that we won our case at the High Court in August 2024. However, this wasn’t clear-cut. The developers then applied to the court for remittal. In short, this meant the developers were granted leave to have the case sent back to ABP for another review. This means a new inspector, a new report and a new decision by the board.  What a waste of time and resources.

So essentially, since August 2024, we have been waiting for news from ACP. We remain in regular contact with ACP, but nothing new to report.

In short, we could get a call tomorrow or in 12 months; we simply cannot say it’s entirely out of our control.

What happens next….?

Once we receive notification from ACP, we can plan our next move, until then, we wait. If the decision goes in favour of the developer, then we need to mobilise quickly. The community war chest provides us with the ability to respond quickly and without delay.

If the decision goes our way, then common sense will have at last prevailed. The community will then decide the next move, as agreed at our last public meeting in January 2024.

Strengthening our case

While we await a decision from ACP, we have been working in the background to increase our presence nationally and at EU level. This has been achieved through the formation of the National Biogas Concern Group Ireland (NBCG) and the gathering outside Leinster House in June, as previously reported here.

Here’s a flavour of what else we have been doing to strengthen our position:

  • November 2024. Gort Biogas Concern Group (GBCG) contributed with a “community perspective” piece to an EU-wide publication by a European NGO launched in Brussels in November 2024.
  • February 2025. The formation and launch of the National Biogas Concern Group Ireland (NBCG)
  • June, 2025. GBCG joins an EU multi-partner coalition group opposed to the rapid growth of Biomethane across Europe. The coalition produced a booklet entitled Stop the Biomethane Rush that was presented to ministers at Leinster House by the NBCG.
  • September 2025. GBCG was contacted to contribute to a research project conducted by an Irish University, as part of a wider project to evaluate the environmental, social and economic impacts of bioeconomy/bioenergy projects in Ireland.
  • October, 2025. The European Biogas Conference was recently held in Brussels (13-17 October). One of the tabled events was a panel discussion on “how biomethane is empowering communities”. A little ironic given our predicament. GBCG requested a place on this panel discussion, and of course, were refused. But they now know who we are.
  • October, 2025. The NBCG group presented at the Oireachtas Committee on Anaerobic Digestion, hosted by the Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food. The group presented the case of why it is vital to have dedicated planning regulations in place for large-scale Biogas developments and why community engagement is critical to this process. You can watch it here (opening statements begin at 44:40) and part 2 here.

So, while we await our fate, we have been busy strengthening our campaign, and we will continue with our community mandate until the threat has passed.

Have we missed anything….?

We have always operated on a Fact not Fluff policy, so when we have an update, the community will always be the first to know. GBCG is made up entirely of volunteer effort, so we keep our powder dry until we have something important to say.

If we have missed anything or if you have any other questions, we are always available, just ask. You can stop us on the street, or if you prefer, contact us directly by email at: biogasconcerngroup.gort@gmail.com or by messaging us through our Facebook page. 

Thank you for your untiring and unwavering support!

A harmonised voice – National Biogas Concern Group Ireland

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Since 2019, the people of South Galway have stood united against the proposed construction of an industrial-scale biogas plant in Gort, Co. Galway. What began as a small but determined group of volunteers from the Gort Biogas Concern Group (GBCG) has grown into a community-driven campaign. Backed by unrelenting local support, the group has taken its fight all the way to the High Court via a judicial review of An Bord Pleanála’s planning approval.

Compare this community-led effort to the power of international agri-business investors, well-funded and backed by professional consultants. It quickly becomes clear how easily small communities can be marginalised and bulldozed by corporate interests without the support of statutory planning regulations.

A turning tide

Over the years, GBCG has assisted other community groups facing the same daunting situation we faced. These groups have in turn assisted others with their campaigns, and together using our shared experiences and knowledge we have been able to build a stronger, more coordinated response. Seven community groups across Ireland now use the moniker Biogas Concern Group, and several more exist under different names.

A harmonised voice

The need for unity saw the formation of the National Biogas Concern Group, a coalition providing a strong, harmonised voice in Ireland in response to the poorly regulated biogas boom. Led by members of the Swinford Biogas Concern Group, the NBCG mission is straightforward:

The National Biogas Concern Group, Ireland, champions the safeguarding of the environment and supports renewable energy projects that are fair and respectful of rural residents, wildlife, natural resources, and European law. We advocate for binding planning regulations for anaerobic digestion (AD) developments that ensure rigorous environmental protections, genuine community involvement, and appropriately scaled, circular bioenergy systems sited at safe distances from homes and proper road infrastructure.

The EU perspective

The National Biogas Concern Group is part of a wider European movement through our collaboration with Foodrise, a coalition that highlights the risks of the ongoing biomethane rush.

Although the biogas industry is more established in other EU countries, significant mistakes have been made. Ireland, still in the early stages of this industry, now stands on a precipice. Without strong regulation, we are poised to repeat those same mistakes, chasing unrealistic production targets at the cost of our environment and local communities.

We have already experienced breaches of planning and environmental law from existing biogas plants in Ireland due to poor regulation, monitoring and enforcement. The government’s National Biomethane Strategy aims to build 200 more biogas plants by 2030.

Leinster House – a chance to voice concerns to policymakers

National Biogas Concern Group, will meet outside Leinster House on the 11th of June 2025, to voice concerns to our elected representatives about the lack of statutory planning regulations in the face of the biogas boom.