IWEA calls for change

The IWEA has met with officials from the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources as a follow-up to the award of Alternative Energy Requirement (AER VI) contracts to ESB subsidiaries on July 9.

The IWEA says that very few AER backed projects have been built and that the AER system does little to stimulate private Irish Wind Industry and encourage competition.

They requested that the minister deals with the ESB's continued monopoly and provides room for the private wind energy developers to compete on fair ground.

They also asked that the minister offers additional contracts of up to 500MW onshore and offers additional contracts of at least 50MW offshore, and that a new

renewable energy support scheme be in place before the year-end.

Commenting on the meeting, Tim Cowhig, Chairman of the IWEA, said; "We have asked the Minister not to destroy the independent Irish wind energy industry, the development of this industry was not subsidised by the state, we do not want it destroyed by the state."

Mr. Cowhig said that the industry will not be fobbed-off by token gestures and that a clear action plan by the Minister is required to ensure that the independent developers in the country are given a fair chance to develop their projects.