Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, President of the Party of European Socialists (PES) last night called for green bonds to be set up to help kick-start the European economy following its deepest recession since the 1930s. Speaking at a debate on green jobs held in Brussels and organised by the European Wind Energy Association, Rasmussen said that “Europe cannot solve its crisis through austerity plans alone,” adding that European institutions must create the right economic environment to boost renewable energy.

The European wind industry has investment needs of around €150bn and green bonds, issued by the European Investment Bank or an independent facility, would help prevent European recovery from losing its momentum and stop countries including China and the US from knocking Europe off its current position as leader in renewable energies, he said.

With its recovery strategies Europe is now “on the wrong track,” he said. “We risk sluggish economic growth of around 0.2-0.5%, a dramatic rise in unemployment and a drop in investment incentives for industry,” he added.

Christian Kjaer, CEO of EWEA, echoed Rasmussen’s call in saying that Europe “messed up” its economic stimulus package. The US, China and South Korea all had better stimulus plans than Europe since they included stronger measures for green growth, he said.

The European economic recovery plan included funds for gas, nuclear and CCS and only small funds for renewables, Maria Da Graça Carvalho, MEP for the European People’s Party, lamented. She went on to say that the EIB should be prevented from investing in high carbon projects.

Kjaer threw another element into the debate by suggesting that re-working the way Europe subsidies the energy sector could be a simple aid to recovery during this period of austerity. 80% of European energy subsidies are currently spent on nuclear and fossil fuels, 20% goes to energy efficiency and renewables. “If you want to save a lot of money from your government’s budget, remove that 80%. That would also make it cheaper to introduce new technologies,” Kjaer said.

Anne Paneels, Senior Advisor for the European Trade Union Conferation, said that another key aspect to growth in green energies is creating more training for technicians and engineers to boost Europe’s skill base in the manufacturing sector. Women, in particular, should be encouraged, Da Graça Carvalho added.

The debate rounded off with a call by Rasmussen to make green energy a “people’s demand” via NGOs and organisations which could then apply pressure on decision-makers, stimulating the political will needed for change.

Did you attend last night’s debate or have a point of view on green jobs and economic recovery? Join the discussion by commenting below.

Although large-scale wind energy farms are the usual method of tapping into the increasingly popular emissions-free power technology, a growing number of institutions and people are exploring other ways of harnessing wind to create green electricity.

One of the latest examples of this exciting shift occurred last week in Nevada when civic officials gathered on the top of Reno’s 17-storey-high City Hall to admire two 1.5-kilowatt wind turbines that are part of a plan to install small-scale turbines around the city to create energy and save money.

“It’s a great thing to do to lower energy bills as much as you can,” Jason Geddes, the city’s environmental services administrator, was quoted as saying in a Government Technology report, “and hedge against future increases in fossil fuel energy.”

The report also says that Reno, one of the first US cities to place a wind turbine on top of a City Hall, has already installed a turbine at the sewage plant and one at a park. In total, the report says, nine urban turbines will be installed so officials can test how they perform in various environments.

The Government Technology story also quoted Geddes as saying that the city is investing $1 million for wind programs with a total of about $19 million for new energy technology. Locals officials have said the wind, solar and energy-efficiency projects are expected to reduce energy use by 25%  save $1 million a year.

Meanwhile, BBC News reported last week that JoeBen Bevirt is putting the final touches to a series of large kites, which he says will be able to harvest the fast crosswinds found at high altitude.

The BBC story claims that Bevrit’s airborne wind turbines will fly to about 600 metres, where they will float, generating power that can be transferred to the ground via a tether.

“Global wind is a tremendous source of energy — carrying nearly 870 terrawatts in global tropospheric winds,” Bevirt, who works for a Californian company, is quoted as saying.  “In comparison, the global demand is 17 terawatts. Harnessing a tiny fraction will transform the way we power our civilization.”

Global Wind Day – a worldwide celebration of the climate, energy and employment benefits of wind power – is fast approaching. With many events happening this weekend, check out www.globalwindday.org for a map of events and zoom in to see what’s taking place near you.

Here’s just a teaser of some of the happenings…

In Belgium, events include a feast of music and food will take place at an open day at the Dour Quiverain wind park on Sunday 13 June. Meanwhile, on the same day in Houyet you can learn more about wind energy and try out an electric car. For those of you in Brussels, there’s still a chance to visit the turbine blade installed in the middle of rond point Schuman.

Over in Denmark, a wind power exhibition will be installed on a large boat touring Jutland on 15 June.

A whole host of windy events are taking place in Ireland, from ‘touch a turbine’ on 12 June, to open days. Wind farm tours and music concerts under turbines are happening in the UK in a variety of locations and on a variety of days, check the list.

In Greece children can take part in drawing competitions, while football teams from companies and organisations can take part in the ‘green football league’ taking place on 12-13 June.

In Italy, events include wind and wine tours, kite surfing competitions and freestyle Frisbee competitions, while in Spain and Portugal there’ll be open days and workshops.

Outside of Europe there’s plenty going on. In Argentina there’s drawing competitions for children and wind farm open days, while in India there’s wind instrument music concerts.

This is just a small selection of events happening this month in celebration of Global Wind Day – from Japan to Germany much more is on the calendar. Be sure to check www.globalwindday.org for more information.

Are you going to a Global Wind Day event? Tell us about it by commenting below…

Despite a couple of heavy down-pours, the EWEA stand at the fête de l’environnement in Brussels on 6 June attracted plenty of people keen to learn more about wind energy and pick up a free mini windmill or packet of Frisk mints. The sun did definitely make an appearance, with Global Wind Day caps flying off the stand during the first half of the fête.

Visitors asked the EWEA team questions about the forthcoming Global Wind Day, and told us they were impressed to see the turbine blade in the middle of the rond point Schuman near Parc du Cinquantenaire in the EU quarter.

A 10-person wind instrument band, including an acrobat, made a special appearance, entertaining the crowd with songs including Bob Dylan’s famous ‘blowin’ in the wind’.

For those of you who missed out, be sure to see what’s happening near you this weekend and the following week for Global Wind Day!

Here’s some great footage of the 29.5m blade going up in the heart of the EU quarter earlier this week: