IFA: Thousands of rural jobs could be created in renewable energy

THOUSANDS of rural jobs can be created in renewable energy if the Government puts the right policies in place, IFA president John Bryan said.

Launching IFA’s renewable energy policy in Kildare, Mr Bryan said the Government should create a dedicated Green Renewable Energy Unit to harness the sector’s job-creating potential. This unit would co-ordinate the activities of the four Government Departments, the five state agencies and all of the diverse private stakeholders in the sector.

Mr Bryan said: “There are tremendous opportunities for the renewable energy and agriculture sectors to combine forces to achieve the 2020 Renewable Energy Directive targets. Farmland can be used for wind production without impacting on agricultural yields, and crops and by-products can be used as a source of power, heat and gas generation.

“Ireland is one of the most energy import-dependent countries in Europe,” Mr Bryan said. “The problem of energy security is compounded by the price volatility in our imported energy supplies, creating uncertainty for all enterprises in the economy. We are spending €150m in imports per week to meet our fuel requirements. Developing renewable energy will create jobs and improve our balance of payments.”

The IFA launched its Land-Based Renewables Strategy on the farm of Michael Murphy, Brannockstown, Naas. He is harvesting his crop of miscanthus which will be delivered to the Edenderry power plant in the first large scale commercial contract negotiated by JHM Crops. Over 300 growers are now planting 6,000 acres of miscanthus around the country.

The IFA’s alternative land use project team chairman JJ Kavanagh said: “The lack of progress from the Greens in the last Government was regrettable. Since the Bioenergy Scheme was introduced in 2007, farmers have made significant investment; now is the time for the Government to demonstrate the same level of commitment and introduce the REFIT tariff immediately so we can achieve our renewable energy targets. The delay in introducing the REFIT is putting the viability of the whole sector in question.”