Seanad debates

Thursday, 9 March 2023

Environmental Protection Agency (Emergency Electricity Generation) (Amendment) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages

 

9:30 am

Photo of Lynn BoylanLynn Boylan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 2:

In page 8, between lines 2 and 3, to insert the following: “Reports

9.The Minister shall, within six months of the passing of this Act, commission and publish reports on—
(a) the level of increased demand by large energy users in the period 2017 to 2022,

(b) a breakdown of large energy users that participated in demand side reduction mechanisms during that period,

(c) a critical appraisal of existing demand side reduction strategies, and

(d) a comprehensive plan to ensure the prioritisation of demand side reduction measures over increased electricity generation into the future.”.

This amendment is self-explanatory. Given we are, for the third time, rushing through emergency legislation to address the fear we will not have enough power on the grid, it is reasonable that we get a report from the Minister setting out the level of increased demand by large energy users in the five-year period specified. The amendment also seeks a breakdown of the users that participated in demand-side reduction. Such reduction is voluntary rather than obligatory and we need to see whether the demand-side reduction strategy is working and having the desired effect. The amendment also calls for a plan for prioritising demand-side reduction measures over increased electricity generation into the future. This is the key point because demand-side reduction is essential for balancing the grid, and that is well and good, but we as a country need reassurance from the Minister of State, given we are in a climate emergency, that we are looking at the issue of demand.

We all want to electrify the economy. We want people to use public transport run on sustainable energy, but some people will have to use electric vehicles. We need to electrify our heating systems and all of that. We all accept that is the path we are going along. However, the Climate Change Advisory Council and all the climate scientists are telling us we must reduce demand. This is key. We cannot have exponential growth in electricity demand into the future. How many wind farms are we going to build to meet an insatiable demand for energy with no regard to where it is coming from? We heard earlier it is too early to plan for certain things and then suddenly it is too late. We need to know the Government is looking at what the future plan around electricity demand is and how we will reduce the overall demand. That is not about destroying the economy or anything like that, but we cannot keep growing demand exponentially.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.