Bord na Móna seeking to provide energy for 30% plus of all homes and businesses

The five Sinn Féin Midlands TDs from Laois/Offaly, Longford/Westmeath, Roscommon, Kildare and Tipperary constituencies recently met with the CEO of Bord na Móna to discuss the future of the company and the expansion of employment in the region.

ABOVE: Tipperary TD Martin Browne, Longford/ Westmeath TD Sorca Clarke, Tipperary TD Patricia Ryan, Laois/Offaly TD Brian Stanley and Roscommon/Galway TD Claire Kerrane.

CEO Tom Donnellan informed the TDs that he wants Bord na Móna to become the main supplier of renewable power, providing 30% plus of all homes and businesses with energy. “This will require increasing the supply of biomass to fully fuel Edenderry Power Station and further development of wind and solar and hydrogen,” said Laois/Offaly TD Brian Stanley.

The TDs stressed their belief in Bord na Móna to become a major player in the energy sector as it transitions from peat to renewable energy.

“Our TDs impressed the importance of good quality jobs being created in this region and Sinn Féin’s support for a Just Transition,” Stanley said. “Bord Na Móna is the only company that has the land, buildings and infrastructure to do this. Along with being publicly owned, it has the track record in industrial development and job creation.”

Bord na Móna’s future plans to expand and move into other areas of waste recovery and reuse, such as wood, paper and plastics, were also discussed, which Stanley believes have "significant employment potential to generate income on a long-term basis.”

“Myself and the other TDs are committed to supporting investment in Bord na Móna as it takes a new direction and advancing policies that will facilitate the transition. Sinn Féin wants the Midlands to capitalise on the job creation potential of the new sustainable industries that will be created across Europe,” he finished.