A £37m cash injection to help create a green economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic could be approved by North of Tyne leaders this week.
Politicians are set to agree a huge investment project to boost offshore wind farms and other environmentally-friendly initiatives.
North of Tyne Combined Authority leaders, who will meet to approve the plans on Tuesday, say the money will stimulate innovation and business growth in areas like energy efficiency, renewables, and low-carbon transport.
North of Tyne mayor Jamie Driscoll said: “Right now attention is on tackling the coronavirus pandemic. I'm working with business groups, local authorities and central government to make sure people's livelihoods are protected.
“We're getting an economic recovery plan in place, ready for when the public health crisis is over.
“Businesses across all sectors will need support. A huge part of this will be our Green New Deal, helping firms and workers transition to a green economy. Supporting innovation will create secure jobs for us, our kids, and our grandkids.”
The authority, which covers Newcastle, Northumberland, and North Tyneside, is set to pump £25m over the next eight years into the offshore wind industry
It is hoped that the investment will create more than 3,000 new jobs by supporting the creation of new technologies and infrastructure at the ports of Tyne and Blyth.
Potential projects mooted include dredging the Tyne so that new, deeper berths can be installed.
Another £10 million will be spent over three years on a Green New Deal Fund, designed to support other projects that will reduce pollution.
This will complement a £100,000 plan this year to develop the business case for a Carbon Reduction Fund, that it is hoped will attract £10 million funding for community energy projects.
A £2 million Green Skills Programme will target workers wishing to retrain from traditional to ‘green growth’ industries.
Northumberland County Council leader Peter Jackson said: "Clean growth is about decarbonising the county whilst improving the local economy.
"There are economic opportunities for the North of Tyne in both the application and advancement of low and zero carbon technologies, as the need grows for renewable, clean energy generation and use.
"Furthermore, it has the potential to lower our residents’, communities’ and businesses’ energy costs."
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