Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The provisions in the REFIT 3 tariff to which the Minister referred are welcome. Could the PSO relating to the peat-fired stations be used to enable them to be converted to burn biomass materials? While this is a small element of the overall electricity generation system, the peat-fired process gives rise to high carbon emissions. Such emissions could be significantly reduced by means of a move to biomass. The Government should adopt a policy aimed at encouraging the move from peat-fired to biomass generation. In view of the recent announcement that Coillte and Bord na Móna will soon be operating under the same umbrella, it is timely that a move away from peat firing should begin now.

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