Alternative energy - Report is heartening

AMIDST the doom and gloom of these depressing times, it is heartening to hear that a UCC report shows grass and waste could be turned into natural gas to light and heat thousands of homes.

With prices on a relentless upward curve, Ireland has the third dearest electricity in Europe. A proposal to reduce our dependence on imported energy and provide 7.5% of our gas demands from alternative sources has to be welcomed.

Rather than pouring billions of taxpayers’ money into Anglo’s bottomless black hole, the Government should ensure that the UCC study, conducted for Bord Gáis, gets the political and financial support necessary to turn grass, slurry and municipal waste into energy.