Scheme perpetuates the myth that gas is a transition fuel
People Before Profit has expressed concerns that a new Government’s HDV Grant Scheme to encourage the decarbonisation of heavy-duty vehicles risks supporting an expanded market for natural gas.
Bríd Smith TD said: “This feeds the myth that natural gas, and LNG in particular, are some kind of low carbon alternative. It is not and this is sending a dangerous signal. It is particularly disappointing that a Green Party minister would think this is okay.”
Deputy Smith said: “Eamon Ryan sat at the same committee as me two years ago when we heard scientific experts and campaigners explain why gas and LNG is not a transitional fuel and indeed why a potentially catastrophic rise in methane levels may be directly related to the huge expansion of LNG and gas usage globally.
“Its simple beggars belief that he would support LNG being included on a list of alternative fuels which the state will now effectively subsidise. I will be asking that he clarifies what type of liquefied natural gas this grant scheme applies to and what safeguards are in place to ensure the state is not effectively aiding a hugely damaging industry for the climate under the fake guise of it been a sustainable alternative to oil.”