An energy policy, could it save the Irish Economy

[fiannafailure]

Could a national energy policy promoting the concept of, stable for a decade electricity prices, save the economy and bring back prosperity.
This way of looking at renewable energy is proving a winner with multinationals planning their next moves, could Ireland make use of it, and should nuclear energy become part of the solution.
Or would it undermine the new strategy being promoted by Enterprise Ireland and the IDA of promoting Ireland's ability to produce abundant green energy

[cd27]

The best way for energy policy to help the Irish economy is to reduce the cost or price of energy.

One way this cannot be done is by increasing the cost of energy, in words by giving subsidies to more expensive & uneconomic forms of energy such as renewables as this has to be paid for out of taxation.

[fiannafailure]

The best way for energy policy to help the Irish economy is to reduce the cost or price of energy.

One way this cannot be done is by increasing the cost of energy, in words by giving subsidies to more expensive & uneconomic forms of energy such as renewables as this has to be paid for out of taxation.

Agreed, by myself personally and also S of I, technology and common sense can do far more than subsidy can even dream of, in fact subsidy encourages lazy attitudes and never bring prices down

[cactusflower]

The fact that we don't have an energy strategy says it all. The free market is supposed to sort it all out, like its sorted out broadband.

[joel]

The fact that we don't have an energy strategy says it all. The free market is supposed to sort it all out, like its sorted out broadband.

The "Free Market" can't sort it out - small, inefficient companies cannot produce cheap electricity. As SOI says, in order to get cheap, reliable electricity there must be a national plan and economies of scale.

[fiannafailure]

But why are our politicians so blind to the economic case that stable energy prices can be such a huge advantage to the country. For business from call centres to manufacturing, energy is second only to labour in cost structures

[Heorditas]

The fact that we don't have an energy strategy says it all. The free market is supposed to sort it all out, like its sorted out broadband.

There is a national energy strategy of sorts:

NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY ACTION PLAN

It's a good start.

[fiannafailure]

There is a national energy strategy of sorts:

NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY ACTION PLAN

It's a good start.

Ok so lets finish it, hopefully the S of I debate in a few weeks can prompt some action, although the man in the street must become involved as well. We have entered the energy economy now, lets wake up to that fact

[cd27]

uneconomic technology tends to be uneconomic whatever the size of the company using it

[SPN]

The best way for energy policy to help the Irish economy is to reduce the cost or price of energy.

One way this cannot be done is by increasing the cost of energy, in words by giving subsidies to more expensive & uneconomic forms of energy such as renewables as this has to be paid for out of taxation.

You should really read up on the subject before posting nonsense like that.

Renewables are NOT subsidised.

Gas fired plants need, and get, a higher price than Wind does.

The price of gas is going to go up, and in a few years we are likely to face supply shortages.

The price of Wind will always remain zero.