This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Renewable energy to drive Scotland forward
22/05/2003
Scotland's vast supply of natural resources means the
country is well placed to capitalise on the numerous
employment, environmental and economic benefits the
renewables sector has to offer, a conference was told
today.
Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning
Lewis Macdonald was speaking on his first engagement since
being appointed Deputy Minister, whose specific
responsibilities include energy including renewable
energies and its related business activities, was speaking
at the All-Energy Opportunities conference today at the
Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre.
He said:
"The Scottish Executive is committed to exploiting
Scotland's renewable potential to the full. This is
reflected in our recent target for 40 per cent of Scottish
electricity generation to be from renewable sources by
2020.
"A thriving renewables industry has the potential to
enhance Scotland's manufacturing capacity, to develop new
indigenous industries, particularly in rural areas, and to
provide significant export opportunities."
The Executive will establish a Ministerial-led forum to
bring together key players from the new renewables
industry, the established energy sector, academia and
Government. The Forum will provide leadership to promote
the development of Scotland's renewables industry.
Last December the Executive announced its commitment to
establish an Intermediary Technology Institute for Energy
in Aberdeen. Last autumn the Executive also introduced a
new Scottish Community Renewables Initiative with more than
£5 million to promote small-scale community renewable
projects.