Beggs calls for Assembly lead in low Carbon Future

Ulster Unionist MLA and environment spokesman Roy Beggs Jnr has encouraged the Assembly Commission to purchase its electricity from renewable sources and to investigate installing a wind turbine within the extensive Stormont Estate.

Speaking in a Stormont debate on making Parliament buildings 'carbon neutral' Mr Beggs suggested installation of an environmentally friendly Bio mass boiler and consideration of growing Willow coppice to fuel it from the adjacent sizeable Stormont Estate. He said, "We should be providing exemplars and leading by example". He also questioned the efficient of the building which can result in windows being left open rather than reducing the heating.

Turning to other items that contributed to our carbon footprint, the East Antrim MLA added, "Why are many Assembly committees continuing to be supplied by bottled water rather than using tap water? This results in additional carbon foot print associated with transportation and packaging."

Roy Beggs MLA had previously highlighted the wasteful weekly reprinting of unaltered information in the Assembly bulletin and welcomed the fact that MLAs could now opt for publications to be delivered electronically rather than printing seldom read material.

Speaking after the debate on the motion which received unanimous support, Mr Beggs said:

"It is right and proper that MLAs give a lead by striving for a carbon neutral Stormont. However, we are again being let down by the lack of leadership being shown by the Minister for the Environment in these matters. What on earth was he doing in Westminster recently acting as a teller for the 'no's', voting against a clause in the Climate Change Bill which imposes a duty on central government to improve the efficiency and sustainability of the civil service estate"