A government scheme to increase the amount of renewable energy produced in the UK could have significant implications for green energy courses, which may become highly prized over the next few years.
Speaking at the launch of a new project on Tyneside, deputy prime minister Nick Clegg promised a "quiet green revolution" under the stewardship of the coalition and outlined plans to introduce a so-called Green Deal.
"Green Deal Finance will allow householders to make their homes more energy efficient, saving on their bills, without the need for them to provide up-front finance," he said. "This is no longer a problem we can ignore."
Mr Clegg claimed the government is seeking to avoid "green gimmicks" and is more concerned with putting its rhetoric into practice than scoring a public relations victory.
Earlier in the week, the Middlesbrough Evening Gazette reported that local authorities on Teesside are anticipating a financial windfall, after the ban on selling electricity back to the national grid was lifted.
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