Minister hears plans for region’s low-carbon future (From The Northern Echo)

Minister hears plans for region’s low-carbon future

10:05am Saturday 23rd January 2010 in North-East Business News

A GOVERNMENT minister yesterday heard for herself plans for the North- East’s green industrial revolution.

At Nissan’s Sunderland plant, Local Government Minister Rosie Winterton was told about plans to transform the region into a low carbon economy.

The Tyne and Wear City Region executive board was holding its meeting at the plant yesterday.

The group brings together seven local authorities, including County Durham, Newcastle, Gateshead, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Sunderland and Northumberland, with regional development agency One North East, the business sector and other partners.

Ms Winterton said: “Good partnerships like this one between local authorities, businesses and communities are key to the city region’s growth and the whole country’s economic future.

“Work developing across the North- East on ultra-low carbon vehicles and renewable energy is a clear demonstration of city regions leading the way in the UK for delivering national targets to cut CO2 emissions and promote sustainable economic growth.”

The region is aiming to become an international hub for electric vehicle research, production and use, which could lead to new industries and thousands of jobs.