FRANKFURT, Oct 4, 2007 (AFP) - Germany's biggest energy company EON said on Thursday it was buying the US wind energy activities of Ireland's Airtricity for 1.4 billion dollars (1.0 billion euros), strengthening its position in the sector outside Europe.

'The purchase of Airtricity North America is ... another step towards a strong position in this sector at a world level,' Lutz Feldmann, a member of the EON management responsible for renewable energies was quoted as saying in a statement.

EON said the payment included covering 553 million dollars of debts.

ATHENS, Aug 27, 2007 (AFP) - Under pressure to cut reliance on pollution-generating fossil fuels for energy production, Greece is stepping up plans to build wind farms on some of its picture-perfect islands that locals fear could scare off tourism.

Since January, a number of Aegean islands have been earmarked to host the massive, modern windmills -- islands of the sort used in the Greek tourist board's TV advertisement showing young couples dancing on white-washed rooftops against a red-and-gold sunset.

BEIJING, July 26, 2007 (AFP) - US and European yachting competitors may have to endure long spells without wind in their sails during next year's Olympic regatta in the Yellow Sea, organisers said Thursday.

'On China's sea at that time of year, compared with Europe and the United States, the wind is not strong,' said Zang Aimin, a top yachting official with the Olympic organising committee.

BEIJING, July 24, 2007 (AFP) - Work has begun on wind power stations that will provide electricity for next year`s Beijing Olympics and showcase China`s ambitions to become more environment friendly, state press reported Tuesday.

Construction of the first of 33 wind generators on the outskirts of Beijing is under way, with the project to eventually supply enough electricity for 100,000 homes, the China Daily reported.