Vol. 571 No. 4
135 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his plans to encourage further expansion of wind energy in Cavan/Monaghan whereby many applications failed to get the go ahead some months ago; if there will be a new opportunity in 2003; if so, when; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21872/03]
The total capacity tendered in the 113 applications received under AER VI in the onshore wind category was in excess of 1,000 MW. I was only in a position to offer support to 485 MW in this category and I am urgently seeking EU clearance for a further 140 MW from the reserve list which is published. This will bring support for wind energy on the grid to 800 MW. In County Cavan three projects with a total capacity of 43.5 MW were successful in the competition. No proposals were submitted to build projects in County Monaghan.
The support programme operates at the national level and the competitive process does not discriminate in favour or against any particular region or county. The priority is to support those projects which will operate most economically so as to ensure the consequential public service obligation levy imposed on all electricity customers is the minimum necessary to deliver the targets in each published category. I will shortly commence a consultative process about future support for renewable energy.
Questions Nos. 136 and 137 answered with Question No. 132.
