Ireland: IWEA Welcomes Publication of Government’s Energy White Paper

Kenneth Matthews, CEO of IWEA stated: “We welcome today’s Energy White Paper as it provides a roadmap for the continued development of sustainable energies in Ireland and greater clarity and certainty regarding our clean energy future, as well as the roles and responsibilities of all. While wind energy has been growing in Ireland for over twenty years now and is already embedded in communities across the country, empowering energy citizens is a positive step, and this White Paper rightly reflects that.

“This White Paper, together with commitments pledged at COP21 in Paris, further demonstrate a universal acknowledgment of the need for greater action and that failure to do so will only see us standing in rising flood waters. Wind energy is recognised in this White Paper as the most cost effective renewable option for Ireland and one which will continue to play a leading role among Irish renewables in bringing down our energy costs, cutting our emissions, attracting billions in low carbon investment into Ireland such as the recent Facebook and Apple datacentre developments, and vitally, securing our energy security,  moving us away from our 85% dependency on foreign energy imports in favour of Irish home-grown power.

“As an Irish sector employing over 3,500 people in Ireland and bringing investment to communities across the country we are proud to be delivering a clean and indigenous energy source to Ireland. Last year, wind energy alone saved Ireland €200m in fossil fuel imports and saw us reach a record low in emissions from electricity generation, all while generating over 18% of our electricity. Wind energy has delivered considerable benefits to local communities across Ireland and we will continue to work positively towards meeting our binding EU renewable energy targets for 2020, and towards meeting our international commitments stemming from the current COP21 in Paris.”