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Wales plans renewable energy strategy

21 February 2008

Wales is aiming to produce enough renewable electricity to make the country self-sufficient within the next 20 years, according to an announcement made this week by the Welsh assembly government.

Jane Davidson, minister for environment, sustainability and housing, claimed that the country's "considerable natural renewable energy resources" will need to be "sensitively but extensively exploited" in order for the targets to be met.

It is thought that half of the country's renewable energy could be generated by marine sources - including wave and tidal power, while a further third could be generated through wind power.

The remainder will be generated through a combination of biomass and microgeneration and there are currently plans in place to change planning guidelines to make this easier for residential properties.

According to Welsh newspaper the Daily Post, it is hoped that all new buildings constructed in Wales will be carbon-neutral by 2011.

It is hoped that this change could reduce the country's total carbon emissions by around four million tonnes annually.

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