Northern Ireland has been left at the mercy of Russia and the Middle East
for its energy supply, leaving it vulnerable to an energy crisis, the Green
Party has warned.
The party described Northern Ireland's "over-dependence" on fossil
fuels as stupid, as Phoenix Natural Gas announced increases in gas bills and
NIE Energy warned that another price hike could be on the cards.
Green Party MLA Brian Wilson criticised Energy Minister Nigel Dodds's "
shortsightedness" in ending the Reconnect grants that helped fund
domestic renewable energy systems.
He said: "With the average bill expected to go up by £130, the number
of people facing fuel poverty will increase and this situation will not
improve as prices for fossil fuels are being forced up, by growing demand in
India and China.
"Northern Ireland is now vulnerable — we are at the mercy of Russia and
the Middle East for our energy supply."
Meanwhile, the Ulster Farmers Union went to Stormont yesterday to present
its alternative plan for ways of generating electricity from the land.
Northern Ireland is importing 96% of its energy needs, the highest in the
European Union, and yet no other country has more potential to produce
alternative energy on its farms, the union said.
The UFU called on departments to work more effectively together to assist
alternative land uses.
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