Minister Urges Rural Sector To Seize Renewable Opportunities

Agriculture Minister Michelle  O’Neill has urged people in the  rural and agricultural sectors to  look closely at the benefits of  adopting renewable energy  technologies in their businesses.  The Minister was speaking after  she attended the Practical Onfarm  Renewable Energy event at  College of Food, Agriculture and  Rural Enterprise (CAFRE),  Enniskillen Campus, where a  seminar programme  provided information  on a range of topics,  including planning,  grid connection,  finance and technical  issues.  The Minister said:  “Renewable energy  technologies provide  those working in landbased  rural sectors  with a multitude of  opportunities to  increase energy self  sufficiency and  supplement income  with energy sales. I want to urge  these sectors to seize the  opportunities that renewable  energy can offer now and to fully  examine how it could improve  their competitiveness.  “My Department continues to  provide a range of support  measures for anyone interested  in increasing their knowledge  regarding renewables. We offer  training and knowledge and  technology transfer to assist the  industry to make informed  decisions about these new  technologies and the  opportunities they offer to their  businesses.”  Minister O’Neill added: “This  event has been organised under  the Renewable Energy Action  Plan and I congratulate the  organisers on bringing together  representatives from so many  areas of the renewable energy  industry to participate in one  focused event.”