Chapter 12: Energy
We strongly oppose the Kerry County Development Plan 2022-28 objective:
KCDP 12-3 Facilitate the expansion of the gas network, including the facilitation of a gas importation facility in the Tarbert/Ballylongford Landbank, and the expansion of the network to the Kerry Hub and Knowledge Triangle settlements of Tralee, Killarney and Killorglin.
This is supporting the importation of fracked gas from the US and runs totally counter to any positive action that you propose to take on Climate Action. Just today, the IEA published their report entitled "IEA Global Methane Tracker report" where they state that "Methane emissions from the energy sector are 70% higher than official figures". In this report they highlight the extent of methane emission from "onshore gas" as well as "Gas pipelines and LNG facilities" both of which would added to if the current Shannon LNG is allowed to proceed. https://www.iea.org/articles/methane-tracker-data-explorer
Shannon LNG as currently proposed is based on importing fracked gas from the US into Ireland for the first time and would be a massive step backwards in reducing climate emissions and so shouldn't be supported by KCC.
Similarly for KCDP 12-5
Consider the sustainable development of Data Centres at appropriate locations powered by renewable energy where it can be demonstrated that there will be no significant adverse impact on the built and natural environment, visual character of the landscape or on residential amenities. Seek opportunities to recover waste heat to support potential decarbonisation projects such as district heating schemes.
Despite the spin to the contrary there is not way to currently power Data Centres without a significant adverse impact on the natural environment currently. As is clear from our submission, Ireland has more than it's fair share of Data Centres currently and so adding more for the foreseeable future is really adding more fossil fuel power plants to the country.
