John Kelly (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I support everything my colleague, Senator Whelan, said about the wind energy sector and the conflicts of interest that pertain to it and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. Both of us have mentioned this in the House on numerous occasions. However, I cautiously welcome the recent announcement by EirGrid about Grid West. Like Senator Whelan, I hope it is not a stunt. One would have to be a little sceptical that it is a public relations stunt because what is likely to come of this re-evaluation is that we will be told it will be four times more expensive to put cabling underground. EirGrid will then go to the Minister and he or she will say that he or she will not impose four times extra cost on bill payers. Grid West is one of many projects throughout the country and, as time passes and if this project proceeds over ground, many communities will be delighted when the Minister says there will be no increase in electricity bills to pay four times extra in cost, but they will then sadly realise that their community will be affected by it. It is wrong that the evaluation of the cost of the underground option is being carried out by EirGrid. I believe it should be done independently of EirGrid to have any credibility.