Ms Anderson explained: "It is widely accepted that we are entering into the era of peak oil production after which we can expect to see the depletion of fossil fuel reserves worldwide. Derry and the northwest are particularly vulnerable given our dependence on external sources for all our energy and fuel needs resulting in high levels of fuel poverty. We have growing numbers of people, particularly the elderly, faced with the choice 'eat or heat' in the winter months.
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"The reliance on fossil fuels is also bad for the environment and makes more difficult the challenge of meeting EU climate change targets. Therefore, it is imperative that we become more self-reliant and resilient in terms of meeting our energy and fuel needs by moving away from the use of fossil fuels, towards renewable, greener sources.
"These needs were identified during the development of Derry’s One Plan. Two of the programmes contained within the Plan have a major focus on energy and fuel. And while the Fermanagh Trust focus on the potential benefits to communities of commercial wind farms the ‘One Plan’ Sustainable City programme and Co-operative / Social Economy Model concentrate on the principle of using local resources to address local needs. A requirement that the enterprises created should be co-operative in nature means there is an imperative that they provide a community benefit."
(CD/GK)
