Brussels, 03/03/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 27 February 2009 in Poitiers, Marie-Ségolene Royal, President of the Poitou-Charentes region, Philippe de Fontaine Vive, Vice-President of the European Investment Bank (EIB) and Noel Dupuy, Vice-President of Crédit Agricole SA, set out the main thrusts of the 2009-12 solar energy plan for the Poitou-Charentes region. The plan was adopted in January 2008 and contains several priorities: development and production of renewable energy, that is to say the installation of 650,000 square metres of solar panels; fostering of regional energy autonomy; creation of 1,000 jobs in the whole region; setting up a genuine solar energy subsidiary in the region; and reduction of greenhouse gases. The 2012 production goal is ambitious: 73 GWh (gigawatts per hour) in solar electricity in Poitou-Charentes. The EIB will grant €200 million to fund the plan. At the same time, Crédit agricole and Crédit agricole Leasing have been selected to implement and co-fund the regional project to the tune of an additional €200 million. The Poitou-Charentes region is prepared to guarantee the loans. (O.L./transl.rh))