AD calls for concerted action plan on alternative energy

Alternattiva Demokratika chairman Harry Vassallo has called on Government and Opposition to have a "concerted and focused plan of action" on alternative sources of energy.

Addressing a press conference yesterday, Dr Vassallo expressed satisfaction that both the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader were now taking AD's cue and have made specific mention to the validity of alternative sources of energy.

"It is a pity that we have had to wait for an exponential growth in the price of fossil fuels to start discussing alternative energy sources. Public health and environmental reasons for tackling the energy problem are not vote-catchers," he said.

Dr Vassallo said that unfortunately people's health and well-being still came second to money in the national sense of priorities. He said that even as energy production has become a huge strain on the public purse some politicians and government ministers persist in rubbishing suggestions to consider new sources of energy.

"No budget has ever taken into account the health and environmental costs incurred by the government and the people as a result of environmental degradation due to pollution emanating from the use of fossil fuels," he said.

AD's spokesman on energy, industry and IT, Ralph Cassar, said that even with conventional power generation using fossil fuels, much needed to be done to encourage a more rational use of energy and to reduce wastage.

"The starting point is the publication of a National Energy Policy with targets for reducing energy consumption and the replacement of the obsolete 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' plant and equipment at Marsa power station," he said, adding that this should also include clear targets and plans, short, medium and long-term, for renewable energy production.

Mr Cassar said other measures could be a minimum VAT rate on energy-efficient light bulbs and equipment to encourage the reduction in the consumption of energy, the introduction of measures that encourage the private sector to invest in renewable energy generating systems, encouraging the local manufacture of components that may be required for renewable energy systems, and training programmes in renewable energy system installations.

"It is unbelievable that our country, which is far from being an oil-sheikdom, is way down on the EU league tables when it comes to the use of renewable sources of energy," he said.