Leitrim councillor questions renewable energy policy
The local councillor has said that the potential climate gains of new projects are being lost to data centres
Renewable energy projects being proposed to serve the demand of large energy users such as data centres shouldn't be considered as climate change mitigation projects, according to a North Leitrim councillor.
Cllr Eddie Mitchell (Ind) tabled a motion to last week's meeting of Leitrim County Council on the issue.
“The Council's policies are principally founded to support climate mitigation reducing the likelihood of climate change occurring. Renewable energy projects to serve the demand of large energy users shouldn't be considered as climate change mitigation projects that offset the use of fossil fuels, because they are by their nature accelerating scarce resource use and contributing to climate risk,” his motion stated.
Speaking on his motion, Cllr Mitchell said, “as a country we are going over the EU energy limit. The objective is to reduce climate change, but more and more energy is going to things that challenge climate change”.
“23% of all renewables are going to Data Centres,” he added.
A written reply from the council stated, “renewable energy projects submitted to the Planning Authority as planning applications are assessed against the policy framework contained in the County Development Plan 2023-2029.”
“However, they are also assessed against any guidelines or where relevant, the policy of the Government. This includes consideration of the National Climate Action Plan (CAP) 2025,” the reply added.
The reply went on to state that local authorities are required to plan for sufficient solar energy development.
“Renewable energy projects provide electricity to the national grid, noting that approximately 23% of such production is presently required for data centres,” the council stated.
“It could be argued that renewable sources of electricity production are both mitigation and adaption measures. It is the manner of electricity production that is being considered in this regard rather than the end use for the electricity produced,” the reply added.