Press Release – IrBEA Response To Energy White Paper Launch

The Irish Bioenergy Association welcomes the publication of the Energy White Paper by Minister Alex White

As a strategy it is an ambitious plan to achieve important targets for renewable energy.
The weakness in the plan is the ability to convert this ambition into action. For example, a renewable heat incentive was promised since May 2014, and at the earliest this will commence at end of 2016. This long roll-out has resulted in market stagnation.
The report accurately points out that Bioenergy has the potential to create 5000 jobs as well as reducing our carbon emissions, however these benefits can not be fully realised unless the proposed policy measures are promptly implemented.
The transition to sustainable energy sources is a massive undertaking. We are calling on the Minister to follow today’s launch by:

1. Bolstering his department with the necessary resources to undertake this challenge.
2. Fastracking proposed support schemes for renewable heat and electricity.
For further information contact
Michael Hegarty 087-0556630
IrBEA General Manager