Alternative energy initiatives have ‘potential to create 5,000 rural jobs’

ALTERNATIVE energy initiatives have the potential to create 5,000 new jobs in rural Ireland, it was claimed yesterday.

Labour Party spokesman on agriculture and food Seán Sherlock said there is huge potential for the domestic production of renewable and sustainable energy crops.

Bioenergy crops such as miscanthus may be used as fuel for the production of heat and electric power, or for conversion to other useful products such as ethanol.