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Pentland Firth has power firms queuing up

09/06/2009

The Crown Estate's Pentland Firth has attracted 42 applications to develop marine and wind power.

Bids are for wave and tidal energy leases, which could lead to the creation of commercial energy sites and bring more eco-jobs to the region.

Alex Salmond is pleased with the level of interest in an area he believes could become "the Saudi Arabia of marine power".

Director of the marine estate at the Crown Estate, Rob Hastings, is also happy with the bids it had received.

"We are working closely with the Scottish government and other stakeholders to look at the issues surrounding supply chain developments and the economic opportunities available to Scotland," he said.

Gordon Brown has stressed that green energy will be vital to the UK's economic recovery.

The prime minister recently called for an international "green new deal" to help boost the economy and promote carbon reductions.

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