Debate contribution: Energy Market

Debate contribution by Ms Sorcha Eastwood on 11 June 2024.

MLA: Ms Sorcha Eastwood
Party at the time: Alliance Party
Date: 11 June 2024
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Private Members' Business
Heading: Energy Market
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 4496060

Text

I echo what my colleague David Honeyford said so well and what many Members right across the House have said during the course of the debate: we find ourselves at a moment in time when the goal of net zero is, unfortunately, being undermined by some. However, I am proud to have put my name to this motion, especially now. I understand that terms such as "green energy", "net zero" and "just transition" can, at times, be wide-ranging, and that people find it difficult to feel that they resonate with them. Therefore, it is essential that, as we push for the transition to renewable sources of energy, including the retrofitting of our housing, we discuss more openly why we are doing it. What we are really talking about is lower energy bills, ending fuel poverty, and making homes warmer and more comfortable for people. So many Members have mentioned their constituents who are struggling in homes that are inadequate at the moment. I am thinking of the people who are going in to the likes of B&M and constantly buying wee dehumidifiers and wee things to sit on their windowsill because they have water or condensation running through the inside of their homes, and it is making their clothes smell and their children ill. However, we have an opportunity before us today. We are talking about job opportunities, cleaner air and, of course, climate change. However, we cannot allow people, businesses and organisations to, again, be exposed to the price increases that we have suffered because of conflict or crises. Indeed, Mr Aiken referred to the many and varied geopolitical crises that are having an impact on prices. I fully accept that achieving a transition to renewable energy and reaching net zero will take a huge amount of investment, but we simply cannot afford not to do it. In the midst of the incredibly difficult financial position that we find ourselves in, and with all the challenges that we face, from healthcare to education, what the public want most from us is to know that things will get better. A key element of that is doubling down on our ambitions to transform our energy sources. That can offer new and secure jobs, opportunities to gain new skills, warmer homes, lower bills and cleaner air. Achieving those ambitious goals means front-loading as much work as possible. We need to give ourselves the best chance of reaching net zero by 2050, and the next five to 10 years will be crucial in achieving that. The Climate Change Committee has outlined just how difficult that is going to be. For example, by 2030, for homes that are off the gas grid, all new heating appliance installations should be zero carbon. For homes that are on the gas grid, it is 2033. As we know, that will have huge implications for our electricity networks, and we have spoken about the importance of planning in that area. Industry will also need to reduce fossil fuel use by 45% by 2030, which will require huge efforts to switch to low-carbon energy. Underpinning the actions that we need to take are policy decisions. Our motion touches on a number of the key ones, which my colleagues will focus on, such as planning reform, which others have mentioned; cross-departmental working; and the role of the Utility Regulator, which has been mentioned by most people. I will focus on something that is not explicitly mentioned in the motion but is fundamental to all that we are discussing — people and skills. My colleagues on the Economy Committee know that I sound like a broken record on that issue, but improving our skills policy is key because we can have all the plans that we want, but unless we make sure that there are people to do the jobs, they will not happen. Now is the time for a complete step change and an urgency that is currently lacking. Whilst I acknowledge that the Minister has outlined some plans, much greater clarity on actions and timelines is needed, as that is how we can all measure success and hold the responsible Departments to account. For example, we need to understand what reforms to our education sector will take place in light of the 14-19 strategy, the independent review of education and the research into our FE delivery, which, as Ms McLaughlin mentioned, plays a crucial role. I am glad to see that the green energy skills industry reference group is in place and am delighted that it will deliver an action plan, but that should be brought forward and fully costed. We need much greater ambition in the promotion of apprenticeships, something that I am very passionate about, and the number of people choosing that training route. Indeed, I was delighted to recently visit Northern Ireland Electricity Networks' training facility in Lurgan and get an overview of its training. The people training were of all different ages and backgrounds and were clearly incredibly capable and fully aware that the careers that they were undertaking would be of huge importance to our community. The motion is about placing the focus of the Assembly back on one of the absolutely essential policy and legislative areas for the mandate. If we are to achieve our targets, now is the time to start. I encourage everybody to fully get behind this.

897 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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