Ballycastle and Rathlin - now officially Ireland’s hot spots!

Councillor Cunningham said: “If you look at the geothermal maps of where the suitable locations are in Ireland, Ballycastle and Rathlin really stand out. The area could well be at the forefront of the shift towards the revolutionary green technology of geothermal energy which takes heat from miles underground.

“Experts think that deep geothermal technology could meet much of our electricity needs. There’s absolutely no reason why we shouldn’t be aiming to tap into this potential energy source. Geothermal energy involves drilling down deep into the earth’s crust to tap into thermal energy stored there. There would be three major benefits to making the most of this type of energy.

“* The Economy – this is new technology that could create new jobs here in Ballycastle and Rathlin.

“* Energy security – this energy is under our feet.

“* The environment – geothermal energy is virtually carbon-free.”