Do we have the energy to resolve our issues?

We are set for ongoing problems with the provision of energy and utilities.

Over recent years it’s become increasingly clear that as the population of the world increases dramatically, the availability and distribution of raw materials, fuel sources, energy and utilities have become major issues. The rush for control of these resources follows.

At a local level, demand is also increasing even as supplies of water and fossil fuels to generate electricity are being depleted. That means growing the infrastructure and, of course, seeking the means to pay for this, a.k.a. charges.

Irish Water is out of the starting blocks and is putting its systems, processes and procedures in place. It’s spent a truck load of money, what with consultants and so on, getting itself this far. What’s more, we understand that it’s going to spend a lot more before it finally takes full control, of the waterworks and the network, in a few years’ time.

Someone, however, did let the cat out of the bag and informed us that if we reduce our usage they will charge us more. Not what we signed up for but apparently, they need the revenue — what with highly paid employees, office gyms and the like and sure, maybe the possibility of privatisation in the future. But the intent is to ensure a ready supply of safe water while minimising wastage and acceding to the troika’s demands ensuring that we pay.

Another provider, Eirgrid, plans to install hundreds of miles of high voltage 400kV cabling across the country to satisfy the power demands of communities and industry.

However, the problem is they plan on bringing this cabling across the country on very large high pylons which will stretch as far as the eye can see going up hills and down dales, right next to houses and across meadows and fields full of cattle. The alternative, underground cabling, acceptable in many parts of the world cannot be done here.

However, Enda Kenny didn’t help the argument when he said that failure to erect the overhead cabling might well result in even greater immigration.

There are plenty of objections, from folk who are rightly concerned for their own health and that of their family, those who correctly believe these monstrous pylons will be a blight on the Irish countryside, to the ‘anti-anything’ brigade ‘tree huggers.’

Of course, the leaking that there is a strong probability that this new march of pylons will result in the development of more wind farms, a.k.a. environmentally friendly renewable energy, has really wound folk up. It seems every door opens to reveal even more problems, more mountains to climb.

Now if we have so many problems with these ‘relatively’ innocuous issues, can you imagine what will happen when hydraulic fracturing or ‘fracking’ comes back on top of the agenda? Come back it will. We are energy dependent and we have little to none of our own. Authorities believe that the answer to all of our needs lies under the ground.

However, in the UK the response to even the initial bore hole tests are beginning to take on the proportions of the anti-nuclear demonstrations at Greenham Common, even as the government incentivises local communities and authorities to allow fracking in the UK.

Yes, energy sources and availability of utilities are critical issues as demand rises. Solutions to obtaining, providing and distributing energy and utilities cannot be postponed. Nor can they be railroaded through on the back of mistruths and misunderstandings.

Government, public sector and utility providers are just going to have to get off their high horses, leave their arrogant caps at home, and converse with those who will be affected by their decisions. They are also going to have to ensure that providers work to strict but fair rules, regulations and procedures on pain of criminal sanctions.