Seanad debates

Thursday, 14 May 2015

10:30 am

Photo of John KellyJohn Kelly (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I call on the Leader to arrange an urgent debate with the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. We need to find out why the Government is pursuing a wind-only policy to reach the 2020 renewable energy targets. We know there are alternatives, one of which is to convert Moneypoint coal-fired power station and other power stations to sustainable biomass. The cost factor the experts refer to is €400 million, whereas we are pursuing the wind energy project at a cost of €5 billion, with the erection of thousands of wind turbines, and €4 billion for a grid network that is not necessary. The €9 billion cost will be borne by the bill payer. With the conversion of Moneypoint, we could reach our target immediately. It raises the question of why we will spend €9 billion when we can get away with €400 million to reach our target immediately, unless the whole wind energy project is developer-driven. It requires an urgent debate in the House and I call on the Leader to bring it about.

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