Speaking at the Seanad – Solar Panels Bill
As Green Party Ireland’s Spokesperson for Rural Development and Enterprise, Trade and Employment, I am asking Minister Darragh O’Brien TD to prioritise passing the Solar Bill and allow a new important income stream for individuals, communities, community groups, schools, farmers and others, by being able to put photovoltaic solar panels on their roofs without restrictive limits and planning permissions.
It can save the Department of Education money on its bills for schools as they will be able to sell electricity back to the grid during the summer holidays. It will get us off the addiction to fossil fuels which we have had for too long, and which the Green Party have been calling to move away from for many years. Small rural farmers need other incomes to help them survive. This could be a big win for everyone, energy security from creating your own electricity, locally created energy fed back to the grid and with a tariff paid for any excess electricity created.