May 13, 2012
Keywords: Local government Renewable Energy
Yamagata Prefecture's Energy Strategy Committee announced at its third committee meeting held on January 23, 2012, that it plans to develop a total of 1 million kilowatts (equivalent to power capacity) of power and heat by using renewable and alternative energy sources within 20 years. This capacity will be equivalent to about 25 percent of the total power consumed before the Great East Japan Earthquake (as of 2008).
The expected energy potential of clean energy sources in Yamagata Prefecture is almost equal to the prefecture's energy consumption. The four top energy sources, wind, solar, biomass and small-to medium-scale hydro, will account for 73 percent of the overall expected potential.
As for power sources, Yamagata Prefecture set its target to increase power capacity by 13 times above current levels by developing renewable sources with a focus on wind and solar power. As for heat sources, it aims to expand the heat capacity by a factor of 15 with the use of natural energy, such as wood resources, snow/ice energy, and geothermal energy.
Posted: 2012/05/13 06:00:15 AM
Yamagata prefecture official website
http://www.pref.yamagata.jp/ou/shokokanko/110012/kokusai/foreign/englishtop.html