The Irish Wind Energy Association (IWEA) said that Ireland has an urgent requirement for a clean, safe and secure energy future, in its response to the Green Paper on Energy Policy in Ireland.

Kenneth Matthews, CEO of IWEA, said: "As Russia threatens Europe with higher energy prices, IWEA is calling for increased action to maximise the role indigenous Irish renewable energy sources, and in particular wind energy, play in our future clean energy supply.

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"Without continued momentum in the development of wind energy, a clean and accessible renewable energy, considerable economic, environmental and social benefits to the country may not be realised and Ireland could be at risk of not meeting its European targets with associated financial and reputational consequences."

A recent independent study entitled 'The Value of Wind Energy to Ireland', carried out by Pöyry and Cambridge Econometrics, highlighted that using wind energy to meet Ireland's 2020 targets would support 12,390 jobs, deliver €3.5 billion of additional investment into the Irish economy, significantly contribute to economic growth and provide €552 million additional cumulative tax revenue to the Irish State. In addition the report highlighted that Ireland would save €282 million per year in foreign fossil fuel imports.

(CD/MH)