An Bord Pleanala decided to overrule an inspectors report that recommended refusing planning for a wind farm in south Longford.
An Bord Pleanala recently confirmed that it was giving the green light to a proposal from Bord na Mona Powergen to develop 24 wind turbines in bogland in south Longford.
The planning authority's inspectors' report, however, reveals that the project was recommended to be refused in September of last year.
In that report, the inspector suggested that a key reason for refusal was concerns over pumping the site of the turbines to prevent their flooding.
It was claimed the project overall would be positive in offsetting climate change but the area's significance as a carbon sink would be harmed by this pumping.
In response, the board claimed that any direct or indirect impacts on the area from the turbines would be mitigated by number of agreed measures after a request for further information in late 2019, and that the overall positive impact of the turbines on climate change and as a renewable energy source suggested it should be approved.
The Board granted planning subject to 19 conditions.
