Climate deal set to create North East jobs, says Fiona Hall MEP

11.30.00am GMT Mon 15th Dec 2008

A North East Lib Dem MEP has helped seal a deal which is set to bring a major expansion of green energy in the region as part of the effort to tackle climate change.

At the EU summit European leaders gave their seal of approval to the text of a new Renewable Energy Directive finalised a few days earlier by the European Parliament and energy ministers from the 27 EU member states. Lib Dem MEP Fiona Hall was part of the small cross-party team negotiating the deal.

By 2020 the UK will have to get 15% of its energy from renewable sources as part of an EU target of 20% renewable energy by 2020.

Said Fiona:

"Expansion of the renewable energy sector in the North East will help the region weather the storm of an economic downturn by providing new incentives for investment and "green collar" jobs.

"For renewable electricity, attention will be turning to the proposed North Sea network of massive offshore wind turbines. But in rural areas it is renewable energy for heating that will become increasingly important - efficient wood burning boilers, heat pumps and solar water heating. This should bring an important boost to rural employment."

The plight of consumers has not been forgotten either. Fiona fought to get energy saving incorporated into the renewable energy directive - and won.

"All EU countries will have to push energy efficiency because using less energy overall will help to meet renewable targets too. With so many people struggling to pay their bills, keeping energy saving at the top of the agenda is really important."