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Clegg unveils plans to support region’s low carbon firms

NICK CLEGG yesterday visited the North East to outline plans to support the region’s green businesses.

The Liberal Democrat leader has announced proposals for a low carbon business support programme, which the government hopes will lead to the creation of 10,000 new jobs and 1,000 firms throughout the UK.

Speaking at Newcastle College, Mr Clegg said: “Here in the North-East we want to create new jobs for young people, particularly in the green industries, in which I think the North-East can be a leader not just in the country but in Europe and the world.

“We already see the North-East emerging as the leading region for off-shore windfarms and in November we will be publishing a really exciting Green Deal.”

Clegg highlighted the government’s planned Green Deal scheme, which will use low interest loans to help households and businesses pay for energy efficiency improvements, is an example of the kind of policy that will serve to cut greenhouse gas emissions and create new green jobs.

The government is expected to move forward with the legislation required to underpin the Green Deal scheme in the autumn and is aiming to launch the initiative in 2012.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .