Meaningful debate on renewable energy and climate change is only way forward – Corcoran Kennedy

Fine Gael TD for Laois/Offaly, Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, has urged the Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to invite the International Energy Agency (IEA), the Commission for Energy Regulation (ComReg), Eirgrid, ESB, Minister for Communications, Alex White, Minister for the Environment, Alan Kelly and any other relevant bodies to discuss the current situation in relation to renewable energy and future plans for energy security .

“It is important that we have an open and meaningful debate around climate change and the provision of renewable energy. The aim of the meeting would be to discuss the need for renewable energy; what type of renewable energy will be required to provide energy security for future generations and what type of infrastructure will be needed. We need to ask where will it be located; will Moneypoint be converted to biomass; will we export energy to UK and Europe; will there be a need for additional pylons into the future; when will the guidelines for locating wind turbines be published?

“A recently launched campaign which focused solely on damaging the re-election of a number of TDs, including myself, puts forward no solutions whatsoever to the issue of climate change and the need to increase our use of renewable energy. Negative campaigning, such as this, brings us no closer to deciding on a national policy or moving towards fulfilling our obligations on climate change.

“I appreciate that this is a highly complex issue, but I believe that local communities need some certainty, sooner rather than later, on the direction the country is going in relation to renewable energy.

“Wind energy is a cost-effective form of renewable electricity for Ireland, but a wider conversation is needed to plan for the future and to set out a road map for developing this and other types of energy sources.”