Sir, – Una Mullally’s recent article observed that “The data centre industry does not need to make a case for itself, because the Irish Government does that instead” (Opinion & Analysis, July 29th). In a subsequent article by Ken Foxe, we learned that Eirgrid warned that data centres will leave Ireland if new grid connections are not granted (“EirGrid warns of possible data centre ‘exodus’ amid connections row”, Business, August 7th). But who is making the case for adhering to our legally binding carbon budgets? A fatal flaw in our climate action governance is that there is no one in charge of supervising allocation of the remaining dwindling budget. None of the State bodies and agencies such as Eirgrid, ESB Networks, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Climate Change Advisory Council, or the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications has the legal power to determine which projects can be allocated emission allowances. Nor does the imminent 700-plus page Planning Act address this major flaw in our planning system, other than requiring ever more tedious and repetitious reports to be generated.
This lack of central control leaves the field open for vague assurances by our Government that all is well and that new data centres can operate, while achieving our decarbonisation goals. This is the “have your cake and eat it” theory. It also gives free rein to Eirgrid to operate as a running dog for the big technology sector. As is clear from their public statements, Eirgrid does not see itself as responsible for assessing carbon emissions, and in fact believes that increased electricity demand would be beneficial and help to achieve a higher percentage of renewable electricity (Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment and Climate Action, January 30th).
In contrast to the wishful thinking of the government and devil may care approach of Eirgrid, the Environmental Protection Agency thankfully still operates in the factual world, and its analysis can be trusted. Its greenhouse gas projections report published in May this year shows that in the best case scenario we will exceed our legally binding carbon budgets and that consequently we are hopelessly off target for a 51 per cent reduction by 2030. Meanwhile, large new data centre loads are granted planning permission in breach of the carbon budgets, and there is nobody at State level to shout stop. – Yours, etc,
COLIN DOYLE,
Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano set to show true boxing values at strange big-money event
‘I want someone to take an actual stand on immigration’: How will TCD student debaters vote?
Spice Village takeaway review: Indian food in south Dublin that will keep you coming back
Trump’s cabinet: who’s been picked, who’s in the running?
Ennis,
Co Clare.