Cllr Mary White, Deputy Leader of the Green Party and spokesperson for Agriculture, has been campaigning since early in 2005 for the development of a bio-refinery in Carlow.

It is important for many reasons including:

1. Replace the jobs lost because of the closure of the Sugar Factory.
2. Give farmers an opportunity to grow crops for bio-fuels
3. Help us comply with the Kyoto Protocol to lower greenhouse gas emissions

Common Questions about Biofuels

Biofuels - What are they?

Biofuels are Diesel Fuel made from oilseeds OR
Petrol replaced by Ethanol made from corn, sugar, grain or even straw or waste.
Biofuels are here to stay and they are starting to change energy markets.

Can our cars really run on crops grown on Irish farms?

Yes they can! And the European Union has targets of 2% of biofuel use in transport and heating by 2005 rising to 5.75% by 2010 .

We have the expertise to grow the crops and we have a work force skilled in working with crops such as sugar beet and wheat.

Would the emissions be lower than those in diesel and petrol?

Yes a decrease in emissions of approximately 55% of carbon monoxide. This would help us meet the requirements of the Kyoto Protocol

What countries are currently using biofuels for transportation?

Brazil and France are leading the way and many countries have removed excise duty to help the development of the sector. Spain, Finland, Germany the Czech Republic and Sweden have all removed excise duty from biofuels

What is holding up the development of this new industry?

A number of countries have since used the opportunity to largely exempt their biodeiesel and bioethanol fuels from energy taxes. Ireland only allows excise duty exemptions on targeted pilot projects. As a result of this, the biofuel industry in Ireland cannot compete against heavily subsidised imported fossil fuels.

Why are Biodiesel and Bioethanol good for Ireland?

I am sure you have noticed the increeas in energy costs. We need biofuels now to cut heating and motoring costs.

Supporting the development of the renewable fuel sector will support farmers in Ireland giving them a new market for their crops. It would copper fasten local jobs in Ireland and could be at the heart of a new and exciting industry which would give Irish people great pride in developing a totally new renewable energy sector.

Mary White is actively trying to get a bioethanol plant into Carlow to cut those very costs and give huge employment in the local economy. The Party is also supporting the development of biodiesel projects throughout Ireland

Do you want any further information, please phone Mary at 059 977 3184, 087 270 7189 or email: Mary White

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White proposes to make
Carlow the first green energy town in Ireland!

Press release 5 Dec 06

Green Party Deputy Leader Cllr. Mary White has proposed to make Carlow the first green energy town in Ireland. Cllr White has called on Government agencies and research institutions in Carlow to attract investment and develop renewable energy projects in the town.

Cllr White said: “I believe that Carlow could stand to become the dynamic renewable centre of the South East by joining together with Teagasc, Carlow Institute of Technology and the business interests of Carlow town to develop renewable energy systems from biomass and biofuels.

“This format could allow Carlow to work towards being totally self-sufficient by producing energy from local sources. This would also develop new business enterprise and the town could offer in-coming business interests a very attractive package of reduced energy costs for their businesses.

Cllr White has set a motion before Carlow County Council calling for the energy changes for the town. The motion is now before the strategic policy committee.

Cllr White said: “Carlow is in a unique position to tap into the extensive land bank that the county has for the production of biomass and biofuels. The county has a skilled work force and with forward planning in tandem with the extensive research facilities at Oak Park , Carlow could reverse the loss of recent jobs and become energy sufficient by switching to local renewable energy.

“The creation of such a policy could dynamically alter the decline in inward investment and see the Business and Technology Park come alive with keen new business interests. This innovative idea has already been pioneered in Austria, where the town of Gussing has become the first town in Europe to produce all the heat, electricity and bio-fuel energy it needs from renewable local sources. Carlow has a tremendous opportunity to replicate this success and become the Irish leader in renewable energy systems.”

 

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29 May 2006 - Letter to the editor, Kilkenny People

FIANNA FAIL AND BIOFUELS

Sir,

I note with interest a piece on alternative fuels ( Kilkenny People May 26th).

I welcome the comments by Liam Aylward MEP for the need to advance biofuels, particularly in the wake of the Carlow Sugar Factory’s recent closure.

However the slow pace of advancement in pushing forward a viable and dynamic renewble energy sector in Carlow/Kilkenny is because of Government inertia.

There is still no national Energy Policy being pursued by the Government and as oil, gas and electricity prices soar the renewable energy sector is
unable to develop because of the limited roll out of biofuels.

The Carlow factory could become a Bio Fuel plant with the production of ethanol which can be used as a transport. fuel. . Kilkenny and the surrounding counties already grow the necessary crop, sugar beet A second benefit is its ability to curb greenhouses gases. If emissions are compared between gasoline and ethanol, 55% can be saved when sugarbeet is used as a source of bioethanol .

The micro conditions for the emerging industry; land bank, skilled work force, feed stocks and local support are good but the macro conditions - fuel tax remissions , accelerated capital allowances are not. Currently the eight targeted pilot projects will be allowed to produce 205 million litres up to 2010. barely meeting the EU Biofuel Directive.

With the EU about to take legal proceedings against Ireland over it’s failure to implement a renewable energy policy and with growing interest in a new nuclear programme in Britain and with the recent Forfas report signalling the nuclear option,Biofuels could make an enormous contribution to Ireland’s energy needs. With regard to our national energy security, a modest quantity of farmland could drive our entire public transport system.

A shift of one hectare in seven currently in pasture for animal production, to biofuels, would supply some of the diesel requirements of industry and/or ethanol for commercial vehicles. It is estimated that 0.5 million hectares of land could supply 10% of Ireland’s total energy needs This suggests that Ireland’s economy could weather the impending oil shock if it makes plans now for a biofuel industry. The fact that biofuel production is more or less carbon neutral is a major plus.

In this troubled world, a sustainable fuel supply which is good for the consumer good for farmers and good for the environment and which is an integral part of sustaining our economy, is a winner. A few simple actions on behalf of the Government could ensure that the Carlow/Kilkenny cnstituency becomes a giant of the renewable energy sector.
Yours etc.,
Cllr Mary White
Deputy Leader Green Party

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Carlow was a “sugar town”…

6 April 2006:
Now it is time to turn Carlow into a renewable energy centre, by becoming the leader in bioethanol production. Greencore who own the factory decided to close the Carlow plant as part of a commercially driven rationalisation plan. With the closure of the Mallow plant , a unique opportunity arises to turn the Carlow factory into a Bio-Fuel plant. I believe that turning round the Carlow plant from the production of sugar to the production of ethanol would provide an alternative source of income for sugar beet growers and create sustainable employment. .

While business interests have indicated a desire to locate to Carlow to develop a bio- refinery this would cost in the region of €90m. Carlow has the site and the machinery to support an ethanol plant (some of the machinery was moved to Mallow in a costly and futile exercise) but I have no doubt with capital injection at the Carlow plant, to the tune of approximately €25m this could put the county at the heart of a dynamic fledgling industry. The micro conditions for the emerging industry; land bank, skilled work force, feedstocks and local support are good but the macro conditions - fuel tax remissions, accelerated capital allowances are not. Currently the eight-targeted pilot projects will be allowed to produce 205 million litres of biofuel up to 2010. barely meeting the EU Biofuel Directive

Carlow, formerly produced half of the National quota for sugar; roughly 660,000 tonnes of sugar beet. Was processed at the factory. Thus it could produce approximately 1.7% of Irish National consumption of petrol or 0.72% of our transport fuels. By supporting the production of ethanol, the plant could not only survive but also be at the cutting edge of this new industry. In this new environment Carlow farmers and business interests would find it economically viable to produce transport and heating fuels, generating employment in this sector, particularly in rural, disadvantaged areas. In so doing the Carlow Sugar Factory could be at the heart of the bioethanol industry. .

With the EU about to take legal proceedings against Ireland over it’s failure to implement a renewable energy policy and with growing interest in a new nuclear programme in Britain and with the recent Forfas report signalling the need to consider the nuclear option, Biofuels could make an enormous contribution to Ireland’s energy needs. With regard to our national energy security, a modest quantity of farmland could drive our entire public transport system. A shift of one hectare in seven currently in pasture for animal production, to biofuels, would supply some of the diesel requirements of industry and/or ethanol for commercial vehicles. It is estimated that 0.5 million hectares of land could supply 10% of Ireland’s total energy needs This suggests that Ireland’s economy could weather the impending oil shock if it makes plans now for a biofuel industry. The fact that biofuel production is more or less carbon neutral is a major plus.

In this troubled world, a sustainable fuel supply that is good for the consumer good for farmers and good for the environment and which is an integral part of sustaining our economy, is a winner. A few simple actions on behalf of the Government could ensure that Carlow becomes a giant of the renewable energy sector.

Cllr Mary White, Deputy Leader, Green Party

 

Filed under: Mary White TD