THE COP26 conference underlines the opportunities for economic growth in the North West of Ireland because of our renewable energy resources, said the SDLP’s Sinéad McLaughlin.
Said the Foyle MLA: “The North West of Ireland has a magnificent opportunity for job creation and economic growth off the back of our region’s renewable energy resources.
“It is essential that government departments recognise this and promote investment in the region.
“As well as onshore wind, we have as yet undeveloped potential for offshore wind farms, as well as tidal and wave energy opportunities, geothermal heat nearby and a large scale solar energy farm being developed in the region.
“These energy sources provide low cost, environmentally sustainable economic development opportunities.
“It will increasingly make sense for new types of industry to locate close to those energy sources.
“Our society must also take bold steps to reduce carbon emissions from home heating, with government leading through the adoption of the Green New Deal and investing heavily in improving energy efficiency in the home.
“This will cut both fuel poverty and carbon emissions. Unless we do much more to improve home insulation we are at risk of missing our carbon reduction targets.
“Not only will improved home insulation make our society more environmentally sustainable, it will also create a significant number of well paid new jobs that are badly needed in the region.
“The SDLP’s energy policy statement that I released last year is a blueprint for a green society,” added Mrs McLaughlin.
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