Counties exceeding carbon emissions facing high fines

Limerick and Clare are likely to face fines of up to E50 million under international pollution laws if carbon emissions are not tackled.

The warning is given in a Limerick Clare Energy Agency (LCEA) report into local energy issues which is set to be published on Thursday, May 18th. A spokesperson for the agency said that the study showed that Limerick and Clare would have to pay a price for their interest in gas and oil.
The agency warned that Clare energy emissions were above the Kyoto target by 300,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide. It is likely that Clare could be 490,000 tonnes over the Kyoto target by 2010.
The spokesperson also highlighted the problems which Limerick faces.

"By 2010 Limerick could be 713,000 tonnes over and face a bill of over E32m in carbon levies. We must move to more secure and sustainable forms of energy."
An energy conference at the University of Limerick will concentrate on the problem in the region. Speakers at the conference will include Dr Padraic Larkin, Dr Ed Walsh, Bernard Rice, Teagasc and Aodhan Fitzgerald of the Marine Institute.