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On August 4, 2008, the Israel socio-economic cabinet approved a government proposal on the promotion of research, technology development and energy production in the field of renewable energy, including energy efficiency. The proposal was submitted by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor and Ministry of Infrastructure. The proposal grew out of the work of an interministerial committee for the promotion of environmental technologies (cleantech) that has been operating for more than two years. The committee is headed by the director of the Economics and Standards Division of the Ministry of Environmental Protection. The program is based on a research study which was conducted by the Industry, Trade and Labor Ministry and the Environmental Protection Ministry to identify potential areas of growth in the field of cleantech. Based on a study commissioned by the committee for the promotion of environmental technologies of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the environmental technologies industry is expected to grow at a rate of 5% a year over the coming decade. Renewable and alternative energy technologies have been identified as important components of cleantech. The goals of the new plan, slated to be implemented during 2008 - 2012, are to increase renewable energy sales to a billion dollars per year within 10 years and to increase research and development investments in this field. One of the tools proposed by the program to achieve these goals is establishment of a research and development center for renewable energy technologies in the Negev, at an investment of 70 million shekels over a five year period. According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Labor, Israeli exports in the field of renewable energy totaled some $110 million in 2007, and are expected to grow significantly in 2008, in light of growing demands for renewable energy in general and the construction of solar power plants in particular.
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