‘New jobs with green energy’

A NEW plan to cut out carbon emissions in the North will also create new jobs, Economy Minister Gordon Lyons has said.

The Minister was speaking last week as he launched a 22-point Action Plan for the Path to Net Zero Energy and as NIE Networks announced 110 new jobs aligned to the strategy.

The action plan follows last month’s publication of The Path to Net Zero Energy which outlined a roadmap to deliver a 56 per-cent reduction in our energy-related emissions by 2030 and a pathway to deliver the 2050 vision of net zero carbon and affordable energy.

The action plan includes a suite of new initiatives including a £10million green innovation fund, a hydrogen centre of excellence and one-stop shop for energy advice.

“A collaborative approach is vital to putting affordability front and centre of our new strategy and action plan.

”We will take an energy-efficiency-first approach which will help consumers reduce the energy they use and therefore minimise their energy bills.

“The action plan maps out the best route to ensuring people will live and work in more
energy efficient buildings, whilst helping some of the most vulnerable in society to live in warmer homes, reduce ill-health and ultimately save
lives.

”We understand people need information, advice and financial support to make some of these
changes, particularly with affordability in mind, and we will ensure that the appropriate help is
available.”

NIE Networks announced that they would be creating at least 110 new jobs, with an additional £50million investment in the electricity network with opportunities for engineers, designers, apprentices and operational posts.

It is part of a significant investment which will focus on the roll-out of clean energy infrastructure.