Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 92: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the percentage of the energy used in his Department that comes from renewable sources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43693/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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40% of all energy used in my Department is from renewable sources. All of the electricity supplied to my Department's main buildings at Adelaide Road and Tom Johnson House, Beggars Bush, and the storage facility at Sandyford, is from renewable sources.

This results from a contract with a specific supplier negotiated by the Government Supplies Agency under which 100% of electricity supplied is from renewable sources. Under this contract 1,920,573 kilowatts of energy was supplied in the buildings mentioned for the period 1st November 2007 to 31st October 2008.

Electricity is supplied to the decentralised office in Cavan town by the ESB. This building is not included in the electricity contract as it was not occupied by my Department at the time of contract. 111,056 kilowatts of energy was supplied by the ESB in the period mentioned representing 2% of all energy used. A portion of this also comes from renewable sources.

The energy for heating the Dublin buildings referred to is supplied by Bord Gáis. For the period mentioned a total of 2,820,320 kilowatts of energy was supplied by An Bord Gáis or 58% of the total energy consumption. While natural gas is considered a clean fuel it is not renewable energy.