Frack off Sammy – your support for the earthquake-inducing practice that even your party doesn’t want is not the answer to our energy crisis.
Yes, gas prices are through the roof and we are all paying through our noses for a Sunday drive to Portrush. But even Boris Johnson is now saying “renewables are the quickest and cheapest route to greater energy independence”.
Mr Wilson, as your party pounds the doors ahead of the election, folks want to hear about what you’re going to do to help bring their crippling bills down. And continuing to hitch our wagon to the fossil fuel industry is not it.
Read more: Rising fuel prices crippling NI animal rescue charity
People just want to keep themselves and their family warm and the lights on as cheaply as possible. And as recent events have shown, staying with a flailing, failing industry that takes no prisoners is not going to help.
I’m not sure if you’ve actually read the International Energy Agency’s 2021 World Energy Outlook but they say very clearly “solar PV or wind now represents the cheapest available source of new electricity generation” inmost markets.
And with the energy sector being“responsible for almost three-quarters of the emissions that have already pushed global average temperatures 1.1C higher since the pre-industrial age, with visible impacts on weather and climate extremes”, a “low emissions revolution is long overdue”.
“All countries need to do more,” they added, saying “a massive additional push for clean electrification that requires a doubling of solar PV and wind deployment” and “a drive to expand electricity use for transport and heating” is needed.
I’m so done beating about the bush on the issue.All the naysayers saying full throttle ahead on clean energy is impossible as the storage isn’t there. We saw just how quickly solutions can be found when everyone works together such as they did during the pandemic.
So here’s a thought Sammy, instead of continuing with your out of touch rhetoric about gas and all that jazz,why not live up to your environmentalist claims? Give the renewables sector as much support at Westminster, in your constituency, on the airwaves and in papers.
Northern Ireland’s Department for Economy has spent a big fat zero on wind turbines and solar panels in the last five years – and that’s an absolute disgrace.
People are calling out for cheaper energy and the solution is staring us right in the face.I know it won’t be as lucrative as the few in the know still being paid millions by taxpayers to burn wood pellets after the downright disgusting handling of the so-called green scheme, RHI.
But it will benefit us all. What householder wouldn’t love to see their electric bill halved as it’s made by wind rather than gas? I’m sure the families of the hundreds killed by air pollution each year would also love to see us move away from polluting fuels as well.
Doing our bit
Friday was Global Recycling Day and my heroes this week are all those of you who go that extra mile to make sure everything that should go in your blue bin finds its way there. If you spend time washing out tins, glass bottles and plastics to make sure they’re reused, you’re well and truly doing your bit.
If you scrape every last bit of food waste and remove the stickers from fruit and veg on the turn before chucking them in the brown bin, that’s next level. And if you gather up all the single-use plastic that can’t be recycled and take it back to your supermarket, you are a legend. All these things add up and you can go to bed at night, well and truly knowing you are playing your part.
Event seeks economic alternatives
Speakers from all sections of society will outline their vision for a circular economy in Northern Ireland on Thursday. Hosted by the Northern Ireland Resource Network at The Playhouse, Derry, the event aims to explore alternatives to the “take, make,waste, dispose” approach we live by today and find ways to make products go further.
Government departments,local authorities, social enterprise, community organisations, NGOs, private sector and funders are all expected on the day. Environment Minister Edwin Poots said: “Northern Ireland’s transition to a low carbon circular economy requires an increased focus on preventing waste and keeping our resources in use for longer.”
NIRN project manager Eimear Montague added: “Transitioning to a circular economy offers many environmental, economic and social benefits.“
This is an opportunity to hear from those already embracing a circular economy,their vision for the future and actions required to fully realise these benefits.”
See https://www.ni-rn.com/to book a place.
Refill those keep-cups
My challenge to you this week is to carry a keep-cup for your coffee and ask every retailer you buy some of the hot stuff from to put it inside. I was in Greggs scratching a vegan sausage roll itch and the kind staff behind the counter told me they’ll happily put my coffee in my own cup again.
Tweet me @ShaunaReports and let me know how you get on!
Read more: Glider in Carryduff 'will cut down on a lot of traffic' say people on the street
Read more: Belfast zoo's 'Tinder for monkeys' is helping save at risk Francois' Langurs
To get the latest breaking news straight to your inbox, sign up to our free newsletter.
