Energy minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav at the event in Patna on Tuesday. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

The state government on Tuesday urged entrepreneurs to invest in non-conventional power sectors, especially solar plants.

Releasing a report on a legal framework for renewable energy development at a Greenpeace India conference, energy minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav said: “Bihar has the potential to generate 14,000MW through solar energy.”

“I request at least five to 10 people to invest in the state and set up solar energy plants. I assure that the government would help you (entrepreneurs) in preventing losses,” Yadav added, while addressing the conference.

The government has set a target of spending Rs 28,000 crore to upgrade, modernise and enhance generation, transmission and distribution system in the state, Yadav said, adding that plans and schemes are underway to spend Rs 5,000 crore and Rs 4,500 crore on distribution and transmission, respectively, over the next four years.

The minister also released a report titled “Creation of a legal, policy and regulatory framework for accelerated renewable energy development in Bihar” prepared by Greenpeace, an international NGO working for the promotion of renewable energy.

“After studying the sector and the broad consensus that the state government policies may not be enough to accelerate development of renewable energy, it was felt necessary to have a legal, policy and regulatory framework, backed by a strong renewable energy act,” said Greenpeace India campaigner Mrinmoy Chattaraj.