"Renewable Energy Jobs -Scotland is bankiing on geen jobs within the renewable energy sector"

SWINNEY PLEDGES TO CREATE 16,000 GREEN JOBSJohn Swinney will pledge to create at least 16,000 'green' jobs in Scotland

over the next decade in an attempt to dig the country out of recession and

protect the environment.The Finance Secretary will officially unveil his ambitious target tomorrow,

claiming Scotland is on its way to becoming the green energy capital of

Europe.Swinney believes Scotland should seize at least a 10th of the estimated

160,000 renewable energy jobs that will be generated in the UK over the

next 10 years.He said: "We are in the most difficult economic climate for a generation

and need to pursue every possible opportunity we have to create wealth. We

are laying the foundations for economic success by investing in a greener

deal for Scotland."Scotland already generates a fifth of its electricity demand from

renewables and we have unrivalled natural resources to go much further,

with 25% of Europe's wave and tidal energy potential and abundant wind and

forestry resources."Swinney, who will outline his plans at an RSPB conference at Glasgow

Science Centre, added: "The jobs we want to create will be in our rapidly

expanding renewables and clean fossil fuel technology industries, alongside

energy efficiency and transport jobs – jobs for a sustainable economic

future for Scotland."The green strategy will not include any new Government funding, but Swinney

wants to build on the £1bn invested by private sector companies in Scotland

over the past six months. The Government expects a further £1bn to be

injected by private companies over the next year.The SNP believes tidal, wave, wind and hydro energy projects are capable of

producing 60 gigawatts of renewable electricity – 10 times Scotland's peak

demand.Scottish renewables are producing 3GW. Government targets are to meet 31%

of electricity demand from renewable energy sources by 2011, and 50% by

2020.The Government believes that the potential energy from projects in

development will bring Scotland's renewable energy production up to 5.5GW,

which would see the 2011 target being met. Last month, the SNP announced

that one of the world's largest wave stations is to be constructed off the

Isle of Lewis.Last week the Government took part in discussions with the European

Commission about developing the North Sea Supergrid project – a venture

that would enable Scotland to export electricity to less energy-rich parts

of Europe. The Scottish Government is processing 23 wind farm applications

and seven hydro projects.The measures were given a cautious welcome by Green MSP Patrick Harvie, who

said: "The SNP Government has clear opportunities to link the economic and

environmental agendas by boosting green jobs."But Sarah Boyack, Labour's environment spokeswoman, said Swinney's

announcement needed to be backed up by action: "We urgently need a green

jobs programme, but it needs to be done properly."Derek Brownlee, the Conservative finance spokesman, said:"There is an opportunity here, but that is no guarantee that it will

actually happen.There are plenty of other nations who are saying the same

thing."To view this article in full please click here.To view the latest renewable energy jobs and green collar jobs please click

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