Devastating news for West Clare as Equinor pulls out of windfarm project at Moneypoint - Violet-Anne Wynne TD
Sinn Féin TD for Clare Violet-Anne Wynne has responded to the announcement that Norwegian company Equinor has pulled out of a partnership with the ESB for a windfarm off the coast of Moneypoint.
Teachta Wynne said:
“This offshore windfarm was a central component to the government’s commitment in the Programme for Government to provide 5GW of wind energy by 2030.
“This is part of a greater promise to generate 80% of Ireland’s energy needs through renewable sources by 20230.
“The irony is that Equinor has pulled out the same day that the government is announcing their much-awaited Climate Action Plan.
“Which is more telling of the government’s capacity to reach carbon neutrality; their ability to produce another lengthy document or their sustained engagement on crucial renewable projects such as this windfarm off Clare’s coast?
“It is a devastating blow for the community in West Clare. There have been very scant details about what the ‘Green Atlantic’ project is actually going to look like. The €2bn. offshore windfarm in the pipeline, using floating technology seemed like positive movement in the right direction.
“It would have provided 1.4GW of the overall national total of 5GW making it one of the main wind energy infrastructures in the country. The youth in the area are crying out for jobs and this project would have provided opportunities for a very disenfranchised youth.
“Planning applications began for this project in 2019. Now in 2021 – we come to learn that Equinor has pulled out. That is two years wasted. The battle against Climate Change is a battle against time.
“The extremely protracted nature of planning and regulation processes in this country will have to change if we stand any chance at dramatically and rapidly changing our energy infrastructure in line with COP26 and other carbon reduction commitments.”