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Greek exile island to turn 'green': minister
Athens (AFP) March 19, 2009 A small Aegean island where Greek governments exiled their political opponents for decades will become the country's first "green energy" community, according to a pilot project presented on Thursday. "The purpose of the project is to create an island whose needs will be 100 percent covered by renewable energy sources," Development Minister Costis Hatzidakis told a news conference. The northern Aegean Sea island of Ai Stratis, which currently has fewer than 250 inhabitants, was selected because of its "controllable" energy requirements of 1,500 megawatt-hours per year, the minister said. Solar and wind energy and biomass fuel infrastructure will be introduced by the end of the year, Hatzidakis said. The initiative follows similar examples in Australia, Denmark and Norway. Ai Stratis was for decades one of several islands used by the Greek state as places of exile for thousands of political prisoners -- mostly suspected Communists. Today it is an isolated yet popular destination with travellers from Greece and abroad, and its population multiplies six-fold in summer. Its sole direct connection to the Greek mainland is an eight-hour ferry from the port of Lavrio near Athens. The island sustained serious damage in an 7.0-Richter earthquake in 1968. Related Links
China energy efficiency improves in Q1: govt
Beijing (AFP) April 29, 2009China cut average energy consumption by 2.9 percent on year in the first quarter, as a major stimulus package helped save energy while maintaining economic growth, the government said Wednesday. |
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