Brown hailsgreen North

Jul 3 2009 by Kelley Price, Evening Gazette

GORDON Brown praised the North-east as the potential home for tomorrow’s energy sources, claiming the region was “showing the world” the way forward on renewable energy.

Speaking during an audience with families, business leaders and key decision makers in Newcastle last night, he also pointed to wind energy in Blyth and Tyneside, which is seeing a strong supply chain build-up in the Tees Valley, as an example of the region’s world-beating status.

He said he believed the North-east stood a good chance of securing vital Government backing for a ‘clean coal’ power project.

A £1.5bn carbon capture and storage (CCS) project on Teesside is one of several UK demonstrations named as frontrunners for vital support by the Government.

Mr Brown singled out CCS technology as having the potential to create as much impact on green energy and job creation in the region as wind power.

John Barton, projects director with Wilton-based Renew, said the PM’s comments were testament to the strength of the North-east project.

“We believe the North-east has the strongest bid of any in the UK because of the density of industry, skills base, engineering expertise and proximity to saline aquifers in the North Sea, where the will go.”

Mr Brown also praised efforts to introduce electric cars to the region and transform medical sciences - but crucially, no funds were promised to help pave the way.

When asked about the Great North Revolution, in which business leaders are debating the steps needed to change the region’s economy, Mr Brown said he was ‘determined to do everything possible to ensure the low-carbon revolution benefits the region.’

He added: “You have made huge numbers of strides into this and the interest and enthusiasm here is incredible, and obviously the Government will do what it can.”