This article is from page 10 of the 2006-09-14 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 10 JPG
SOARING energy costs could see Clare faced with €387 million of electricity costs by 2010.
The startling prediction was made by Pat Stephens, Manager of the Clare-Limerick Energy Agency, as he addressed members of Ennis Town Council last week.
Figures show that, since 1990, Clare’s energy spend has increased from €64 million to €241 million in 2005. The figures don’t take into account electricity consumption at Moneypoint, Shannon or Aughinish.
Maximising County Clare’s renewable energy resources will be one of the issues discussed at an open meeting of the Clare Environmental Forum in the offices of Ennis Town Council at 8pm on Monday, September 18, 2006. Pat Stephens will brief those in attendance on the benefits of harnessing such resources as forestry, wind, hydro, wave, tidal and energy crops.
Mr Stephens warned, “The people of County Clare face energy costs of €387 million by 2010, if they fail – in the meantime – to produce electricity and heat from wind, water, and solar energy sources. This 100 per cent increase on energy costs since 2005 is having a damaging impact on personal finances, environmental emissions, climate change and sustainable development.”
Mayor of Ennis Joe Reidy (FF) said responsibility for energy conservation rested with each individual person. Councillor Johnny Flynn (FG) said more needed to be done to highlight the issue.
Cllr Patricia McCarthy (Ind), Chairperson of Clare County Council’s Environment, Emergency Services and Consumer Protection Strategic Policy Committee has urged members of the public to attend the open meeting of the Clare Environmental Forum.