The BBC reported today that the Irish Government has approved plans to build what will become the world’s largest offshore wind farm. It is estimated that the $630 million project will have three times the generating capacity of all offshore wind farms built to date worldwide. Upon completion, the project’s 200 turbines will provide Ireland with 10% of its total electricity needs.

Unlike the proposed offshore wind project in Cape Cod, this offshore development plan has received widespread public praise. To what degree this public support has been fueled by Ireland’s ratification of the Kyoto Protocol is anyone’s guess, but what is clear is that the project will have a tremendous impact in meeting Ireland’s target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 13 million tones per year, as stipulated by the protocol. Furthermore, the state will receive $1.7 million per year in rent and royalties from Eirtricity, the private firm contracted to build the plant. In the end, this project is a win win for the Irish government. Not only does it make a huge dent in their required emissions reduction, but simultaneously generates an ongoing source of revenue from a non toxic, renewable resource

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.triplepundit.com/mt/mt-tb.cgi/1157

No related stories right now
From Technorati »