Energy Agency To Raise Issue Of Multi-Million Euro Carbon Tax In Meeting With Environment Minister

The head of the Agency will also be seeking support from Minister John Gormley for local action that delivers on national policy.

Speaking ahead of this afternoon's meeting, Mr. Patrick Stephens said that Limerick and Clare are paying a carbon tax of EUR13 million, which will increase substantially in the future.

"I will inform Minister Gormley that national energy and climate change policies can only be delivered through local action. Limerick and Clare to take ownership of their own energy needs and climate change strategy", explained Mr. Stephens.

He continued, "The Limerick Clare Climate Change Strategy has calculated that counties Clare and Limerick will exceed their local Kyoto targets by 490 and 562 thousand tonnes of CO2 respectively by 2010. Under the current Government policy of buying carbon credits (carbon tax) this is costing Limerick and Clare EUR13 million now and could cost EUR36.8 million by 2010. This is based on the current cost for carbon of 35 per tonne."

Mr. Stephens added, "Limerick and Clare have tremendous renewable energy resources. Indeed, both counties will have little difficulty in meeting the national targets of 15% renewables in electricity generation by 2010 and 33% by 2020. However, we recognise that national targets cannot be met in this way, since Limerick and Clare will have to greatly exceed these targets to allow for others counties and regions that do not have the same resources."

"National energy and climate change policies can only be delivered through local action. Limerick and Clare are fortunate that so many organisations, including local authorities, local businesses, rural development and the third level colleges are all focused on working together in solving our climate change and energy problems. Recent events have only served to confirm that we cannot rely on anyone else to protect, and develop our local resources for the people of Limerick and Clare", concluded Mr. Stephens.

Today's meeting in Dublin followslast Friday's LCEA-hosted 2nd Energy Solutions Conference at the Limerick Institute of Technology. The event was attended by leading domestic energy and business agencies, including the E.S.B., Sustainable Energy Ireland, Irish Farmer's Association, National Standards Authority of Ireland, Surface Power and BRE Ireland. Senior officials from Limerick and Clare County Councils also attended the event.

-ENDS-

Notes to Editor:
- Mr. Patrick Stephens, Manager of the Limerick Clare Energy Agency is available for interview or further comment. He may be contacted at 061-234296 or info@lcea.ie.
- For further please contact Mark Dunphy of Dunphy Public Relations on 086-8534900 or media@dunphypr.com
- The Limerick Clare Energy Agency, which was established in July 2005 by co-investment from Limerick County Council and Clare County Council, is one of 16 other agencies that form an all-island association. However, the Agency is unique in that it was established entirely from local authority funding without any external assistance. The priorities for the Agency for its first three years of operation include the promotion of an indigenous energy supply, the devising of a climate change strategy for Limerick and Clare, the establishment of a Fuel Poverty Programme for Limerick and Clare, advising local authority housing departments on energy efficiency, and securing an energy and emissions balance for both counties. The Limerick Clare Energy Agency, also receives sponsorship from the University of Limerick, Rural Resource Development Limited in County Clare, West Limerick Resources Limited, and the County Limerick based Ballyhoura Development Ltd. The support of the sponsors enables the Agency to conduct a number of important projects in both counties, as well as operating from a centre of excellence in the University of Limerick.
- For more information on the Limerick Clare Energy Agency log on to www.lcea.ie or email info@lcea.ie.

Mark Dunphy
Dunphy Public Relations
Clonboula,
Connolly,
Ennis,
County Clare
IRELAND
www.dunphypr.com
media@dunphypr.com
00353-868534900 (Mobile)
00353-656839692 (Fax)