THE North-East, once home to a plethora of heavy, often environmentally unfriendly industries, could fast become the stomping ground for politicians wanting to flex their green credentials.

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg stood on the shores of the River Tyne last week to unveil his party’s green jobs manifesto.

I doubt he’ll be the last MP using our region as a backdrop for advocating environmental change.

Mr Clegg’s proposition is to upgrade disused shipyards, tap in to the expertise at specialist university departments, such as Durham and Newcastle, and work with manufacturers to produce off-shore wind turbines. And where would these turbines be located?

A good number would be bound for the Dogger Bank offshore wind farm zone, the largest of nine locations for renewable power generation around the shores of Britain.

The North-East is blessed with natural assets and has an industrial heritage stretching back two centuries based around these assets. We have long had good ports serving relevant local industries for mining, steel making, shipbuilding, chemical processing – the list goes on.

In addition, we have the fabrication skills needed to make this opportunity become a reality.

This is not a job we can do entirely on our own and the North-East Chamber of Commerce (NECC) will continue to lobby for the right support to help this burgeoning industry to grow here. Equally, we all have a role to play in raising the profile of the North-East as a hotbed for renewable energy innovation and production.

In addition, NECC will press the Government to understand that urgent action is needed if the UK is not to face energy shortage issues as soon as 2015.

NECC’s energy policy report Generating Growth highlighted where the opportunities and challenges are and where change is needed. It called for a modernisation of the planning system, mobilisation of regional supply chains and more incentives for research and development and investment in innovative energy projects.

The report also called for a guarantee of greater regulatory certainty and more strategic investment in North-East infrastructure, including improving grid access. Without a commitment to make these changes, renewable energy manifesto pledges from parties of any political persuasion will be paper thin and fail to deliver on the promises made.

■ Martyn Pellew, president of the North-East Chamber of Commerce.