Fine Gael Kildare South TD, Martin Heydon, has called for a review of our national energy policy to be carried out in tandem with the on-going review on the possible undergrounding of pylons. Deputy Heydon was speaking following his attendance at an anti-pylon meeting in South Kildare earlier this week.
“Our Energy Policy White Paper was published in 2007; a lot has changed in the last seven years. Now that the Independent Panel is considering the possible undergrounding of the Gridlink project, I believe it is an opportune time to carry out a full review of our overall energy policy.
“We are badly in need of a national conversation on our future energy needs; this means examining all options in terms of renewables, including alternatives to wind energy, such as wave and solar energy.
“I raised this issue with the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Pat Rabbitte TD. In response, Minister Rabbitte has said his department will publish a Green Paper on energy policy in the coming weeks, which will take account of a number of issues, including competitiveness, security of supply and the potential to support growth and job creation.
“Minister Rabbitte has also committed to a full public consultation process, which is essential, before a new Energy Policy Framework is developed. At a time when local communities across the country are concerned about the impact of wind turbines and pylons, I believe this is the appropriate time to fully review our overall energy policy, decide how we are going to meet future demands and to adequately examine all of the alternative options.”