Understanding the macro-economic benefits of renewables

Rodney Edwards writes on the Impartial Reporter website about how communities taking their energy future into their own hands was the topic under discussion at a recent renewable energy event attended by locals who are opposed to fracking in Fermanagh in Northern Ireland.

‘Renewables can be the source to re-energise rural communities, bringing jobs and income’

Organised by Good Energies Alliance Ireland (GEAI) and Love Leitrim, speakers included Irish Green Party Leader Eamon Ryan and Pauline Gallacher, a member of the Scottish social enterprise the Neilston Development Trust which has created a community windfarm.

Claire and Frankie McMurray represented LAMP (Letterbreen and Mullagdun Partnership) at the ‘Renewable Energies Prosperous Communities’ event in Manorhamilton.

“It was exciting and inspiring to learn of the positive role that renewable energy can have in revitalising rural communities. It can provide sustainable energy, clean safe jobs, and keeps the profits from energy in the community,” Claire states.

“The horror of being in a community plunged without consent into the sacrifice zone licensed for fracking, soon motivates learning about the realities of the challenges of generating energy facing every country. Ultimately when global warming is also factored it leads to the conclusion that community owned renewable energy is something every community must do,” she believes.

A spokesman for the event commented: “Pauline Gallacher’s presentantion was one of the most inspiring ones. She told the audience to ‘use community-owned energy to stimulate ownership of the carbon emission reduction agenda and to harness your own resources to build your own sustainable future’.”

The event also heard that Manorhamilton households spend more than €2 million every year on transport and other energy. An Energy Audit carried out by GEAI found that the 563 households in the town spend over €500,000 on electricity and over €600,000 on other fuels, an average of €2,200 per household.

“Over €1.5 million of Manorhamilton’s disposable income is spent on imported fossil fuels every year and therefore lost to the local economy!” said GEAI Director, Aedín McLoughlin. “People don’t realise the very real potential of renewable energies to reduce imports, generate income and jobs for local communities and provide energy security for the future.”

According to Claire, “the mind boggles how many millions the communities in Fermanagh are spending on energy each year”. Hearing of other communities that have taken charge of their energy “makes us realise we are effectively being mugged if we allowed fracking; as they destroy all we value most and profits from the industry would be heading to Australian shareholders and London Treasury”. Claire continues. Fermanagh has hydro-electric, biogas and wind potential, she points out.

GEAI plan to replicate this event in other local communities, concluding: “Renewables can be the source to re-energise rural communities, bringing jobs and income.”