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The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association
(ICMSA) has urged the Government to reassess its position
on the provision of incentives for the installation of small
and micro-generation units.
ICMSA
Rural Development Committee chairperson John O’Donnell said
current Government policy acts as a disincentive to many home
and land-owners making a commitment in this direction. Set-up
costs for a wind micro-generation unit varies between €17,000
and €30,000 - a sizeable outlay for potential domestic or
farming customers.
Mr O’Donnell said Sustainable Energy Ireland is currently
involved in a pilot programme providing 40% grant assistance
to just 15 domestic wind- generation installations. The Government
needs to develop this concept and look at provision of a grant
or other alternatives, such as VAT reduction or tax credits
for all installations.
Mr O’Donnell said Ireland is considered to have some of the
best energy-producing winds in Europe. A high percentage of
the population lives in one-off houses on sites suitable for
wind energy.
There are good, sustainable long-term jobs in green energy
installation and maintenance businesses, but the Government
needs to kick-start the installation of these energy generation
units.
He added that the Government would more than benefit from
any incentive provided to homeowners - in that any change
in the generation of electricity in Ireland would help to
reduce the state’s €6 billion a year spend on fossil fuels.
Meanwhile, Sustainable Energy Ireland, COFORD and Teagasc
announced that 'Banking on Biomass' will be the theme
of Bioenergy
2009 at Lyrath Estate Hotel, Kilkenny, on June 17.
It will include a conference, site visits and indoor and outdoor
technology exhibitions. The event will highlight the use and
deployment of solid biomass.
The organisers noted that Ireland’s dependency on imported
energy has grown to about 90%, compared with the EU average
of 50%. Bioenergy and wood-based fuels have a key role to
play in finding workable and cost-effective solutions to fossil
fuel dependency.
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