Jim O'Keeffe
Question:86 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the plans, if any, she has to facilitate small scale on-farm renewable energy projects in the near future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9135/00]
Vol. 517 No. 1
86 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the plans, if any, she has to facilitate small scale on-farm renewable energy projects in the near future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9135/00]
In September last, I published my Green Paper on Sustainable Energy. One of the objectives of the paper is to promote the increased use of alternative and renewable sources of energy for electricity generation and to do so in a way which maintains the competitiveness of the sector.
I have stated on a number of occasions my commitment to participation by local communities, including the farming sector, in renewable energy developments. However, I recognise that there are constraints to the widespread deployment of renewable energy technologies. In that context, I have established a renewable energy strategy group tasked to examine all aspects of, and obstacles to, the further deployment of renewable energy technologies.