Budget fails to deliver for renewable energy

NOW Ireland, the organisation representing the offshore wind energy sector in Ireland, has said that the failure to adequately promote renewable energy in Budget 2008 is a decision that will cost Ireland in terms of lost investment and further carbon penalties.

Reacting to the Budget, NOW Ireland chairman Mick McBennett, said: "While the Budget does address climate change in relation to increasing motor tax levels on SUV's and larger cars, it misses the opportunity to address the issue of emissions caused by electricity generation.

"The budget in effect allocates only €30m additional expenditure in the area of marine energy. In his speech the Minister acknowledged that electricity generation accounts for nearly a quarter of emissions, significantly higher than those attributable to private car use.

"Despite this admission, little has been proposed to increase the share of renewables. Last week's report by the EU Commission, has indicated that Ireland is likely to miss it's Kyoto targets by as much as 100%. Failure to address our dependence on fossil fuel based generation will be the single largest cause of the fines that Ireland will continue to pay for missing our emissions targets."