Renewable Gas Forum-Irish Green Gas Limited

Lobbying Organisation Renewable Gas Forum-Irish Green Gas Limited

Date published 01 Nov, 2019

Relevant Matter Legislation

Public Policy Area Energy and Natural Resources

Period 1 May, 2019 to 31 Aug, 2019

Specific Details Renewable Gas Forum Ireland (RGFI) raising concerns with regards to the inaccurate, misleading and misrepresentation of biomethane from agricultural sources in the Climate Action Plan, specifically Marginal Abatement Cost Curve where biomethane from agriculture is presented as being €377/t Co2 abated, when in fact it should report a range of €82 to €177 based on a methodology set out in RED II for "objective and non-discriminatory GHG calculations", this methodology was not applied by DCCAE,

Intended results In the Climate Action Plan under paragraph 4.2 it states that the Marginal Abatement Cost Curve (MACC) has been developed to provide a solid analytical foundation on the most cost-effective pathway to reduce emissions in line with Ireland's decarbonisation targets. This is clearly at odds with the facts, the figures quoted are inaccurate & misrepresentation of the cost of Biomethane from Agriculture sources, one of two most difficult sectors to decarbonise are Agriculture 33% & Transport 20% RGFI are requesting that the cost of biomethane from agricultural sources is corrected and reported in line with accurate, factual information and RED II methodology. RGFI has been requesting for a number of years that all renewable heat technologies being considered by Government have full Cost Benefit Analysis in compliance with Public Spending Code be carried out on each technology to ensure proper and appropriate assessment of the costs and benefits, so that there is a level playing field.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity PJ McCarthy

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Letter (1)

Phone call (2-5)

Follow up phone calls to Deputy Sean Fleming to discuss the Climate Action Plan - MACC and details of the accurate and factual information in relation to MACC for Biomethane from agricultural sources.

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Richard Bruton Minister (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)

Sean Canney Minister of State (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)

Tom Neville TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Seán Fleming TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

John Paul Phelan Minister of State (Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government)