Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

One of the key objectives behind the co-firing of West Offaly and Lough Ree power stations was to build up demand rapidly for indigenously sourced biomass. The principal reason for the lack of biomass was the absence of any proven demand for energy crops that would attract farmers. This led to the rejection of the planning application for the West Offaly power station by An Bord Pleanála.

Before any decision is made on the future of the power plants in question, we must fully evaluate the possibility and potential for operating our current peat-powered plants with 100% locally sourced biomass. This could reduce agricultural emissions on local farms by 600,000 tonnes of carbon each year. This would be the equivalent of the removal of 130,000 cars off our roads, generating €372 per hectare with a price of carbon at €80 per tonne. It would also create 4,000 seasonal jobs in harvesting while guaranteeing income to farmers in the midlands.

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