Short on details, long on ambition - Energy policy paper

BECAUSE successive Irish governments have been notorious for an almost complete disregard for long-term planning, a frisson of anticipation had swept through environmental circles when it emerged the minister with responsibility for energy was preparing a plan that would take Ireland up to the 21st century.

Regrettably, it appears Energy Minister Alex White has missed a golden opportunity to put his mark on Ireland’s future in this context.

The white paper unveiled yesterday lacks specific and realistic targets and timelines to inform a concerned public on reducing our heavy dependence on imported fossil fuels. Nobody expects the minister to have a crystal ball or predict with any degree of accuracy what is likely to happen between now and 2100, the 85-year timespan covered by the white paper. But it should not be beyond the resources of his department to do a better job of informing them how Ireland will reduce greenhouse gas emissions as part of Europe’s move towards greater reliance on renewable forms of energy such as wind power and hydro electricity.