Deal For 2,300 Wind Turbines To Supply UK Called Off

Ireland walking away from renewable energy, says Green Party leader

The Green Party’s Eamon Ryan said there was no interest on the part of the Government “in the climate challenge we face. There is no discussion of how exposed we are to rising fossil fuel prices.” Photograph: PA

A negotiated agreement to facilitate green energy exports from the midlands by a 2020 EU timeframe has not been reached, Minister for Energy Pat Rabbitte has said, meaning the midlands energy export project will not proceed.

The deal had envisaged 2,300 wind turbines being built across the midlands between now and 2020 to supply 5,000 megawatts to the British market.

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan responded to the announcement saying Ireland was walking away from renewable energy, while a wind energy lobby group expressed concern at the talks pull-out, saying a deal could have been reached.

The Minister said examination of the renewable energy export project arising from the March London summit, which included Taoiseach Enda Kenny and British prime minister David Cameron, had “failed to conclude an inter-governmental agreement to facilitate green energy export from the midlands within the EU’s 2020 timeframe”.

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