Renewable Energy and the Program for Government

The votes are cast, the counting has been completed, and Fine Gael and Labour have emerged as not only the two largest parties, but also coalition partners to form the government of the 31st Dáil.  The Green Party, champions of alternative energy and sustainability, were completely obliterated and Fianna Fail lost the vast majority of their seats.

While there has been some scepticism that Fine Gael and Labour were capable of bridging their ideological differences to form a government, after much negotiation a program for government has been produced.  Styled as the 'Government for National Recovery' they have set out the policies that they will pursue in the years ahead as they attempt to steer the country out of the mire of broken banks, a collapsed property market, widespread unemployment and emigration, and the shackles of a punitive EU/IMF deal that has ensured that taxpayers will pay for the gambling losses of international bondholders.  Not an easy road ahead.

But how does the Program of Government stand up against the election manifesto promises?  Lets have a closer look at what the new coalition intend to do to encourage renewable energy and micro-generation.

Renewable Energy Policy - Who to vote for?

The General Election is just over a week away and all the political parties are setting out their stalls to attract the electorate.  Lots of glossy documents outlining the problems, promising the solutions.  Plenty of vision and wisdom, -it's a wonder we're in the state we're in.

All the political parties see the value of promoting renewable energy but some seem to be a bit more serious about it than others.  

So let's see what the various political parties have to say about what they'll do when they get their hands on the levers of power.  I'll present the parties in the order of their current popularity.