First Minister Rhodri Morgan visited the Centre for Alternative Technology in Machynlleth to see how building work is progressing on the centre's latest development.

During his visit, the First Minister was taken on a tour of the Wales Institute for Sustainable Education, which is currently under construction. The centre, which is being built using sustainable materials and methods, will be home to a state-of-the-art environmental education centre, which includes a 200-seat rammed earth lecture theatre, workshops, seminar rooms and a laboratory as well as accommodation for visitors to the centre.

-- Advertisement --

The First Minister said: "Every time I visit the Centre for Alternative Technology, I am mightily impressed because for more than 30 years, this centre has been at the vanguard of exploring ways to generate clean, green energy.

"As the price of oil continues to escalate, the work the Centre does to develop environmentally-friendly energy generating methods is more relevant than ever, and is now at last captured the imagination of the public.

"This new centre, helps to educate the public and allows them to stay on site to study the Centre's work.

"The Assembly Government's One Wales document states that in areas where we have responsibility we want carbon reduction equivalent reductions of three per cent per year by 2011. The work being done here points the way to achieving that aim."

(CD/JM)