leftchick
11-10-2008, 08:34 AM
EU: Zero Carbon Communities
By Mario de Queiroz
MOURA, Portugal, Nov 3 (IPS) - This small municipality in the south of Portugal is becoming increasingly well-known for its alternative energy initiatives. The latest is the Sunflower project, which also involves communities in seven other European Union countries.
http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=44558
The IEE seeks to convert the communities into areas free of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, where only renewable energies are used.
Behind the idea are the mayor of Moura, José María Prazeres Pós-de-Mina -- who was also the driving force behind the project of what until early 2008 was the world’s largest solar plant, Amareleja -- and environmental engineer Helder Guía.
The architects of the Sunflower project explained to IPS that it will be financed by the EU over a term of 30 months and that its aim is to attract investment for renewable energy initiatives.
The first step is to "determine the role of each of the bodies that participate, in terms of their contribution to the development of their respective regions," Pós-de-Mina told IPS.
At the meeting that launched the project, held in Moura in early October, the mayors from the eight participating countries identified the needs of each municipality, "towards drafting a working plan from which the various activities envisaged will stem," Guía put in.
The idea is "to form partnerships between the bodies involved and other institutions, such as political authorities, economic groups, technology parks and universities, to draw investment for the alternative power industry, which would also lead to job creation," said Guía.
Pós-de Mina placed particular emphasis on what he described as "one of the main goals of the project: conducting campaigns to raise awareness on the use of renewable energies and the benefits to the people and schools in the communities in the eight countries involved."
By Mario de Queiroz
MOURA, Portugal, Nov 3 (IPS) - This small municipality in the south of Portugal is becoming increasingly well-known for its alternative energy initiatives. The latest is the Sunflower project, which also involves communities in seven other European Union countries.
http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=44558
The IEE seeks to convert the communities into areas free of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, where only renewable energies are used.
Behind the idea are the mayor of Moura, José María Prazeres Pós-de-Mina -- who was also the driving force behind the project of what until early 2008 was the world’s largest solar plant, Amareleja -- and environmental engineer Helder Guía.
The architects of the Sunflower project explained to IPS that it will be financed by the EU over a term of 30 months and that its aim is to attract investment for renewable energy initiatives.
The first step is to "determine the role of each of the bodies that participate, in terms of their contribution to the development of their respective regions," Pós-de-Mina told IPS.
At the meeting that launched the project, held in Moura in early October, the mayors from the eight participating countries identified the needs of each municipality, "towards drafting a working plan from which the various activities envisaged will stem," Guía put in.
The idea is "to form partnerships between the bodies involved and other institutions, such as political authorities, economic groups, technology parks and universities, to draw investment for the alternative power industry, which would also lead to job creation," said Guía.
Pós-de Mina placed particular emphasis on what he described as "one of the main goals of the project: conducting campaigns to raise awareness on the use of renewable energies and the benefits to the people and schools in the communities in the eight countries involved."