This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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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.