The Conference on Friday 19th May, 2006 showcased the research work undertaken by the Non Food Crops Project Officer, Colm Mc Crossan along with national and regional trends in this sector. This project was funded by the North West Cross Border Group under Interegg IIIA under the auspices of the Donegal County Development Board and administered by Donegal County Council Community Enterprise Division.
There were 170 delegates at the Conference comprising representatives of all sections of the community, industry and agriculture.
The morning session opened by Minister for Agriculture Mary Coughlan TD provided the attendees with an overview of what is happening at national level between the various government departments and state agencies with regard to policy on renewable energy, and the supports being provided to encourage and develop its further use.
The afternoon session allowed the Non Foods Project officer to outline the research he had undertaken and the outcome of the collaborative actions that had been undertaken in the project. The session also provided other local promoters of renewable energy projects in County Donegal to showcase their projects and how these could be developed further to assist in reducing the carbon fuels requirements for this county. They also indicated how in turn these projects can contribute towards future employment and economic growth in the County. The projects included wind energy and how to develop a community wind farm project. Production of willow as a bio mass fuel that uses sewerage waste as a growth enhancer provides the farmer with both a gate fee and a harvest fee. The production of bio diesel by farmers in the North West from crop to fuel was also included.
The conference provided an opportunity for the agencies to outline their action plans, the project promoters to explain what they were seeking to achieve with their projects and how they were impacting on the local area and its economy. For further information contact :
Colm Mc Crossan 074 9172497.
Email cmcrossan@donegalcoco.ie