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Politics : Rat's Nest - Chronicles of Collapse -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Wharf Rat who wrote (1204)	7/23/2005 9:13:00 AM
From: Wharf Rat	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 24216

Portugal Pins Energy Hopes on Wind Farm Licenses -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PORTUGAL: July 20, 2005 LISBON - Portugal's Socialist government said on Monday it would grant licenses within six months to build massive stretches of wind farms, as part of a 2.5 billion-euro ($3-billion) investment plan in renewable energy. A Economy Ministry spokesman said the licenses, to be awarded to business consortiums, would allow for the generation of 1,700 Megawatts (MW) of energy. That's more than the capacity of a new nuclear power plant proposed by private investors last month, and immediately rejected by the government. Officials did not say when the wind plants would be ready or how much government spending would be needed for the project. But the ministry saw direct investment of 900 million euros ($1.09 billion), with most of the funds coming directly from the companies, and a portion from public coffers. "If there is an area that is of utmost importance for our future, that area is renewable energy," said Prime Minister Jose Socrates, calling for private-sector investment. The government approved last month a 25 billion-euro plan for infrastructure investment, including 2.5 billion euros in spending for renewable energy. The plan was part of the Socialist campaign platform ahead of February elections in which the party ousted a center-right coalition. The rise in oil prices to record levels of around $60 a barrel has put the spotlight on alternative sources of energy. Portugal's state-owned electricity generator EDP is a heavy user of fuel oil for power generation. Last month investors headed by tycoon Patrick Monteiro de Barros said they would seek to build a nuclear power plant with a capacity of 1,600 megawatts -- without public funds. But the government ruled out nuclear power projects. EDP, Portugal's biggest industrial group, called the wind farm project "ambitious." "EDP has always been interested," said CEO Joao Talone, who attended the press conference in Lisbon. Analysts believe other companies will also be interested in the wind farm project, including Spanish firms Endesa, Iberdrola and Gamesa . Portugal's budget deficit this year is estimated at 6.2 percent of gross domestic product, just over twice the euro currency zone limit. Story by Henrique Simoes de Almeida planetark.com