Commission finances 31 new energy agencies
The European Commission has selected a total of 31 energy agencies for funding under the SAVE II programme for the promotion of energy efficiency. The 31 new agencies bring the total supported by the Commission throughout the EU to 141. Regional agencies account for 20 while the remaining 11 are urban energy agencies. Each agency will receive Community funding of ECU 175,000 for the first three years of operation. The main objective of these agencies is to define and implement activities aimed at improving demand management by promoting energy efficiency, and ensuring better use of local and renewable resources. In addition, they will make local policy-makers more aware of the impact of energy on other policies for which they are responsible. The agencies selected are designed to cooperate with each other, and will also make use of the experience of existing agencies. The regions and cities which have been selected are as follows: - Oberfranken District (D) with Peloponnese Region (GR); - Drôme General Council (F) with Judenburg and Judenburg District, Knittelfeld and Murau (A) and Planalto/Beirao District Association (P); - Kassel District(D) with Waldviertel, Federal State of Lower Austria (A); - Association of Municipalities of Greater Grenoble (F) with Turin (I); - Mayo County Council (IRL) with Province of Pisa (I) and Prefecture of Trikala (GR); - Counties of Dalarna and Gävleborg (S) with Vale do Lima (P) and Livorno (I); - London Borough of Southwark (UK) with Pamplona (E); - Lisbon (P) with Verona (I) and Tarragona (E); - Province of Biella (I) with Association of Municipalities of the Vale do Ave (P); - Province of Jaen (E) with Association of Evora District Municipalities (I) and Como Province (I); - Tipperary County (IRL) with Prefecture of Larissa (GR); - Milton Keynes (UK) with Espoo (FIN); - Klagenfurt (A) with Brest (F).