Chris Huhne, the Government Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change has praised the Eco Island concept and said the Isle of Wight was well placed to make the aspiration a reality.
Speaking via a video podcast interview during a visit to wind turbine blade manufacturers Vestas, Mr Huhne said Eco Island – launched by the Isle of Wight Council in 2008 – could be a template for a more sustainable UK.
Mr Huhne also spoke on the Government’s new Green Deal initiative and gave his views on the future of tidal power generation.
The council was particularly keen to hear Mr Huhne speak on the subject of tidal power as, backed by investment form the private sector, it is pursuing plans to create such a testing centre using the fast-flowing waters off Fort Victoria on the Island’s north west coastline
This in turn could lead to a tidal power farm off St Catherine’s point – a project that would create thousands of jobs throughout the UK but particularly in the Solent region and make the Island a net exporter of energy.
The full podcast interview with Mr Huhne can be seen via the link below. Other video interviews taken during the visit with Dame Ellen MacArthur, IW Council Leader David Pugh and Vestas Chief Executive and President Ditlev Engel are also available.
