The Brabant Member of Parliament Hermen Vreugdenhil (ChristenUnie/SGP) finds it impossible that producer of insulation material Isover (part of Saint-Gobain) is allowed to emit 865 tons of NOx and 322 tons of ammonia (NH3) without further conditions. Vreugdenhil: 'However, there is scope for emissions of 622 dairy farms, and they have to take all kinds of measures. Both should be treated equally.'
Isover in Etten-Leur, just like the Amercentrale and Schiphol, requires a nature permit, even though the province of North Brabant claims otherwise, says Vreugdenhil. The province, like Schiphol, reasons that the activity existed before the Nature Conservation Act (Wnb) existed and therefore there is no permit requirement.
Emission space with a value of €35 million
Saint Gobain did apply for a nature permit in 2020, but according to the province this was not necessary. According to Vreugdenhil, things threaten to get even crazier if Isover were to get this emission space without a fight and only partially use this space. The company could then sell or lease a large part of this space, which represents a value of €35 million, says Vreugdenhil.
The emission capacity that Isover wants to have in Etten-Leur is partly based on outdated technologies. Much insulation material is produced with a newer and more environmentally friendly 'binder'. This means that less emission space is required. According to him, the provincial government does not take this into account.
Also MOB in the gun
The organization MOB (Mobilization for the Environment) has now also taken action. This initially asked the province to remove the latent nitrogen emission capacity from Isover's permit.
In the meantime, Vreugdenhil is also angry about the decision of the Provincial Executive of North Brabant to challenge the ruling of the court in Den Bosch, which annulled the Amercentrale's permit. He believes this is unjustified and cannot be explained to other parties, such as farmers, who must limit their emissions.