Latest news with #DepartmentOfEnvironment
BreakingNews.ie
11 hours ago
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Ireland losing ground to Europe and US due to high energy costs, IDA says
The IDA said Ireland was losing ground to other EU countries and the United States because of the high cost of energy. In a series of briefings for the government, the investment agency said strong security of power supply was 'imperative' for enticing companies into Ireland. Advertisement It said the operating environment for foreign direct investment was becoming more difficult, more aggressive, and with a 'relentless focus on competitiveness.' The IDA briefing said that traditional drivers of investment like market access, tax, and talent were still important. However, it added: 'New drivers such as digital/green, subsidies/incentives, and friendly nation status make the environment more complex. 'Adding to the challenge for IDA in sustaining/winning investments are constraints to the carrying capacity of Ireland's economy and utilities - which are causing significant delay, backlogs and reputation risks to winning new investments.' Advertisement The briefings were prepared last summer for the Department of the Environment as the investment agency warned Ireland's financial position was heavily dependent on foreign direct investment (FDI). They said any reduction in FDI would lead to a significant reduction in tax revenues. It said energy prices needed to decrease and become much more competitive as Ireland looked to attract in semiconductor and life sciences investment. One briefing said: 'Ireland is not sufficiently competitive with most other EU locations or the US.' Advertisement It said a significant increase in electricity supply was urgently needed to meet a sizable growth in demand from data centres, and other sectors. A separate briefing said uncertainty over connections to the national grid for data centres was 'of concern.' Ireland Mother of Irish soldier Sean Rooney gets permissio... Read More It said: 'With respect to overall energy connection policy, there needs to be a transitional period for data centres (and enterprise in general) to achieve decarbonisation and net zero.' The briefing said the government should look to tap into the expertise of data centre operators around opportunities for innovation. The IDA also said there was a risk to Ireland's offshore renewable energy industry which was 'underpinned by the large data centre demand and potential demand.' It added: 'A slowdown or cessation in data centre investment could adversely affect the economics for offshore wind developers, which in turn could impact the country's ambition and targets in renewable energy development and climate action.'
Irish Times
12 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Ireland losing ground to US and Europe, IDA warns
The IDA said Ireland was losing ground to other EU countries and the United States because of the high cost of energy. In a series of briefings for the Government, the investment agency said strong security of power supply was 'imperative' for enticing companies into Ireland. It said the operating environment for foreign direct investment was becoming more difficult, more aggressive, and with a 'relentless focus on competitiveness.' The IDA briefing said that traditional drivers of investment like market access, tax, and talent were still important. READ MORE [ IDA chief plays down threat to Ireland from Trump's tax move Opens in new window ] However, it added: 'New drivers such as digital/green, subsidies/incentives, and friendly nation status make the environment more complex. 'Adding to the challenge for IDA in sustaining/winning investments are constraints to the carrying capacity of Ireland's economy and utilities - which are causing significant delay, backlogs and reputation risks to winning new investments.' The briefings were prepared last summer for the Department of the Environment as the investment agency warned Ireland's financial position was heavily dependent on foreign direct investment (FDI). They said any reduction in FDI would lead to a significant reduction in tax revenues. It said energy prices needed to decrease and become much more competitive as Ireland looked to attract in semiconductor and life sciences investment. One briefing said: 'Ireland is not sufficiently competitive with most other EU locations or the US.' It said a significant increase in electricity supply was urgently needed to meet a sizable growth in demand from data centres, and other sectors. A separate briefing said uncertainty over connections to the national grid for data centres was 'of concern.' It said: 'With respect to overall energy connection policy, there needs to be a transitional period for data centres (and enterprise in general) to achieve decarbonisation and net zero.' The briefing said the government should look to tap into the expertise of data centre operators around opportunities for innovation. The IDA also said there was a risk to Ireland's offshore renewable energy industry which was 'underpinned by the large data centre demand and potential demand.' It added: 'A slowdown or cessation in data centre investment could adversely affect the economics for offshore wind developers, which in turn could impact the country's ambition and targets in renewable energy development and climate action.'
CBC
a day ago
- Climate
- CBC
New warning signs being placed along P.E.I. coasts where erosion and flooding are risks
The government of P.E.I. is adding dozens of colourful signs to the coastline warning residents and visitors about areas that are prone to erosion or vulnerable to flooding. A total of 40 signs will be placed in 15 locations across the Island this summer, concentrating on areas where there is a lot of activity, such as beaches, walking trails, cliff sides and roadways. Pointing out that post-tropical storm Fiona caused a year's worth of erosion in a single night back in September 2022, P.E.I. Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Ernie Hudson said that just because a favourite walking spot used to be safe doesn't mean it is now. "Areas that, you know, five, 10, 15 years ago would have been considered safe to walk… [that] may not [be] and is not necessarily the case anymore," Hudson told CBC News. He said the new signs, developed in collaboration with the Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action, are a direct response to recommendations from the P.E.I. Interim Coastal Policy Report. Unlike the province's standard green and yellow signage, these new signs feature large, bold text reading "Caution: Stay Back." Hudson said the design is intended to grab attention quickly and help prevent accidents. The erosion warning signs are going up at: North Cape Cabot Park The Victoria causeway Northumberland Park Red Point Park Thunder Cove East Point Wood Islands Park Flood warning signs will be placed at the following locations: North Rustico Bay The North Rustico wharf Grand River Tryon Brackley Panmure Island The Souris causeway Each sign will give details on how much shoreline was lost in that area over a specific period. Hudson said department experts came up with the locations after identifying areas of high risk, particularly where the public could unknowingly get too close to unstable cliffs. More sites may be added in the future depending on how coastal conditions change. While erosion is a province-wide issue, the minister said the government has taken steps to help protect the coastline. Hudson pointed to recent shoreline reinforcement work along the Souris causeway, as well as a major project completed last year at Cedar Dunes Provincial Park in West Point — home to P.E.I.'s tallest lighthouse. That $3.4-million initiative involved building giant rock reefs to stop the red sand beach from washing away. "Look at West Point," he said. "Certainly that is the best example, I think, that anybody could see of the benefits of some of the protective measurements that we have taken."
Mail & Guardian
a day ago
- Business
- Mail & Guardian
Government withdraws ‘flawed' waste-tyre management plan for full review
Environment Minister Dion George. (OJ Koloti, Gallo Images) Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister The withdrawal of approval for the plan, which was published in the Government Gazette on 20 March last year, would enable the department 'to revisit the plan with a fine-tooth comb', the The minister's decision reflects his 'commitment to thoroughly reviewing and strengthening environmental policies as a newly appointed leader', it added. In September, the In its court documents Redisa, which managed waste tyres from 2013 to 2017, said the plan had unachievable and unrealistic targets; lacked any budgetary detail; failed to use the available information and projections and was created and approved in a procedurally flawed manner. Redisa has welcomed George's decision after 'publicly calling for this materially flawed and self-defeating plan to be scrapped'. The environment department said that, since taking office, the minister had prioritised a 'meticulous evaluation' of decisions made by previous administrations. 'After careful consideration, he [George] has opted to withdraw the (plan) approval to allow for a detailed reassessment, ensuring the plan fully aligns with the department's objectives of sustainable waste management and robust governance.' George said that, while the plan was developed through a prolonged and consultative process, 'concerns have been raised regarding its alignment with current sector realities and policy intent'. 'The withdrawal enables a focused review to ensure the final plan is implementable, transparent and fully responsive to the operational and governance complexities facing the sector.' The thorough review of the plan will involve renewed stakeholder engagement and the appointment of an organ of state, probably the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, to refine it, addressing areas such as data accuracy and sector capacity. The minister said his goal was to deliver a waste-tyre management plan that is practical, inclusive and futureproof. 'This withdrawal is a proactive step to ensure we get it right, building a stronger foundation for the waste-tyre industry and environmental justice.' Existing interim arrangements for waste-tyre collection and processing would continue, ensuring no disruption to the sector, the department said. It noted that engagements with the treasury were under way to secure a sustainable funding model while further details on the review process would be shared with stakeholders in due course. Redisa was responsible for the implementation of a waste-tyre recycling scheme from 2012 — the only one of its kind in the country — which entailed the creation and management of a national network for collecting discarded tyres, storing them and delivering them to recyclers for processing. This was envisaged as the beginning of a tyre recycling industry and the foundation of secondary industries for the use of products created by recyclers. In September 2017, Redisa and its management arm, Kusaga Taka Consulting, were placed in final liquidation, based on a request from former environmental affairs minister Edna Molewa. In January 2019, the supreme court of appeal overturned the liquidation order. Redisa said that George 'has made a rational decision' and 'should be commended for taking the right action to resolve an issue he inherited'. It was committed to cooperating fully with all parties and would request a meeting with the minister 'to discuss how best to manage the waste-tyre crisis in the country'. The waste-tyre management plan, it maintained, was never going to be an effective solution to South Africa's crisis. The country produces at least 253 000 tonnes of waste tyres a year, which was being 'mismanaged' by the waste bureau under the department, with depots filling up and becoming fire hazards, while tyre dumping was increasing. 'Apart from the public health threats caused by the uniquely toxic character of waste-tyre pollution, the mismanagement is also a lost opportunity for the South African economy, because, through a well-coordinated recycling process, economic development and job creation can be strengthened considerably,' it said. The minister's decision was 'good news, not just for the environment, but also for job creation through recycling in South Africa', it said, adding that it was eager to work with government departments and other stakeholders to make sure the waste-tyre crisis is addressed. It said that, during its tenure, it had built 22 tyre collection centres, employed more than 3 000 people, created 226 small waste enterprises, offset 59 000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions, empowered unskilled workers and stimulated emerging entrepreneurs. 'Redisa has the technical and policy experience to play a significant role in turning the waste-tyre crisis into a viable form of economic empowerment because it has done this before.'
CBC
5 days ago
- Business
- CBC
P.E.I. government reducing many of its energy efficiency rebates as of Monday
Social Sharing Prince Edward Islanders who invest in some energy efficiency measures will get lower rebates from the provincial government starting Monday, while amounts offered to help pay for insulation and window and door replacement will go up. The province announced the changes to its Net Zero and efficiencyPEI rebates on Thursday, after it paused accepting new applications for some programs earlier in the year. "We're trying to balance fiscal responsibility — staying within the budgets that we have in the division — while maximizing our return on investment," said Derek Ellis, the director of sustainability for the province's Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action. That means "moving some investments away from some of the poorer-performing programs from an energy savings and greenhouse gas emission reductions perspective and over to the higher-performing programs," he said. As a result, the amount of money Island homeowners will get for installing heat pumps, buying electric vehicles and putting in solar panels is set to decrease. The province will also pause new applications for free heat pumps, free insulation and free electric hot water heaters due to high demand, a news release said. The province measures the cost effectiveness of its programs based on dollar spent per ton of greenhouse gas emission elimination, as well as dollar per kilowatt hour saved, Ellis said. "We have a good idea of how [programs] perform over time and have made some changes in response to that," he said. Details of new P.E.I. government rebate levels as of June 2, 2025 Popular programs The province has seen a lot of uptake on its heat pump and solar panel rebates, Ellis said, adding that the province is happy to continue offering rebates to homeowners on those items, at a lower rate. The heat pump rebate for residential properties is set to decrease from $1,200 to $900 per unit, while the solar panel program will see a change in incentive rate and a rebate capped at $5,000 for solar panels installed on a home, compared to the prior $10,000 cap. People wanting solar panels who were previously approved by the province will get the old amount, while anyone who applied on or after Jan. 8, 2025, will get the new amount if they are deemed eligible. "Incentives and caps for commercial and agricultural clients will remain the same," the news release adds with regard to solar panels. "Rebates on energy-efficient equipment for business, community, commercial and industrial buildings [are] increasing, including air source heat pump rebate increasing from $600 to $900. Rebates are also increasing for selected lighting and for packaged terminal heat pumps." Rebates for the purchase of electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles have been popular, particularly in Charlottetown and Summerside, Ellis said. While the amount of those rebates are going down, annual registration of those vehicles will still be free. Ellis also said the province will not be making changes to its infrastructure plans to support EVs, citing projects underway to create more fast charging stations in communities across the Island. Some rebates the same or higher Some of the energy efficiency and rebate programs will continue unchanged, including the e-bike incentive, instant rebates on appliances, and the provincial subsidy for home energy audits. As well, the provincial news release says, there will be a "40 per cent increase in rebates for insulation for attics, walls, basements, headers, exposed floors, windows and doors, and air sealing." As for new home construction, the news release said, "incentives will be increased and re-aligned to match national building code tiers, so people will get more money back." Ellis said the province tries to stay in line with the latest trends and best practices to help Islanders minimize energy costs.
