Wind energy policy
Senator Kelly requests a debate on the Government’s wind-focused renewable-energy policy and proposes biomass conversion of power stations as a cheaper alternative.
I call on the Leader to arrange an urgent debate with the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. We need to find out why the Government is pursuing a wind-only policy to reach the 2020 renewable energy targets. We know that there are alternatives, one of which is to convert Moneypoint coal-fired power station and other power stations to sustainable biomass. The cost factor to which the experts refer is €400 million, whereas we are pursuing the wind energy project at a cost of €5 billion, with the erection of thousands of wind turbines, and €4 billion for a grid network that is not necessary. The €9 billion cost will be borne by the bill payer. With the conversion of Moneypoint power station, we could reach our target immediately. It raises the question of why we will spend €9 billion when we can get away with €400 million to reach our target immediately, unless the whole wind energy project is developer-driven. It requires an urgent debate in the House and I call on the Leader to seek to arrange it.