Kelly welcomes adoption of trade MEPs position on the Net Zero Industry Act

Sean Kelly MEP for Ireland South has welcomed the adoption by the Parliament’s trade committee of its position on the Net Zero Industry Act. “I am very pleased that the Parliament’s trade committee has adopted our opinion on the external aspects of the Net Zero Industry Act.” 33 MEPs voted in favour, one against.

 

“As lead negotiator for my political group, I pushed for strong international cooperation on the roll out of net-zero technologies and for the EU to pursue new trade partnerships in order to diversify our supply chains and reduce strategic dependencies.  Certain technologies, and their components, such as solar PV panels, wind turbines, and batteries will be essential for the transition to net-zero. We cannot be overly-dependent on one country for their supply.”

 

“Another key aspect of the act that I welcome is the reduction of administrative burdens related to planning and permitting of renewable and net-zero energy projects. The Act proposes to shorten time lines for approvals of such projects, reduce regulatory burdens and create one-stop-shops in each Member States that will coordinate the entire permit-granting process from start to finish.”

 

“Speeding up permitting and planning is something that I have been pushing for, for a long time,” Kelly added. “Along with my colleagues on the energy committee, I was pleased to table amendments to the Commission’s proposal that shorten the proposed timelines even further.”

 

The Net Zero Industry Act is part of the Green Deal Industrial Plan, the EU’s response to the US Inflation Reduction Act.

 

“This Plan is our opportunity to support our domestic clean tech industry, something we should have been doing for a long time. I hope that we will see sufficient funding to accompany the Green Industrial Plan, although we should remain vigilant that this funding is distributed equitably between member states, with due regard to the integrity of the Single Market and the need to ensure smaller member states, like Ireland, receive their fair of any green subsidies.”

 

ENDS