----- forwarded message ----- Date: Wed, 06 Dec 2000 21:49:40 +0100 From: "secr(MG!)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: EU states agree to boost renewable energy use ----- forwarded message ----- Subject: [gaia-l] EU states agree to boost renewable energy use Date: Wed, 6 Dec 2000 09:43:47 -0400 (AST) From: Mark Graffis <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: all <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, [EMAIL PROTECTED], map <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> EU: December 6, 2000 BRUSSELS - European Union countries agreed on Tuesday to increase the proportion of the electricity they use that comes from renewable energy sources. Energy ministers from all 15 EU countries signed up for nonbinding targets which would increase the share of the total EU electricity market represented by renewables like wind and solar power to 22 percent from the current 14 percent. "This initiative is part of fighting against climate change because it will substitute renewables for other energy types such as fossil fuels," EU Environment Commissioner Loyola de Palacio told a news conference. The targets vary widely for each of the 15 EU states, reflecting the varying market share renewables already enjoy in each country. Austria, for example, already produces 70 percent of its electricity by renewable means, mostly through hydro power, and it agreed to increase this to 78 percent. Britain, which gets less than 2 percent of its electricity from renewables, agreed to a target of 10 percent. The ministers' decision will run into conflict with the European Parliament, which wants the targets to be made legally binding. The EU assembly has joint legislative powers with national governments on the issue. According to an EU source, only Germany and Denmark were in favor of legally binding targets, with at least two countries - Austria and Luxembourg - saying they could never accept such measures. The differences of opinion are likely to lead to difficult negotiations between the parliament and governments in the months ahead, diplomats said. In their agreed text, the ministers said they accepted their targets on the assumption they would be allowed to continue to subsidize renewable energies. The clause was a warning shot to European Competition Commissioner Mario Monti that he should not rush to impose tough rules controlling the amount of subsidies countries can use to promote renewables. Monti - who polices subsidies to ensure the EU single energy market has a level playing field - is due to publish guidelines on state aid to renewables later this month. A source at the European Parliament said Monti aims to harmonize national subsidy regimes within five years. Both the parliament and EU governments want to allow existing support programs to remain for at least 10 years. Under the 1997 United Nations Kyoto agreement on fighting global warming, the EU agreed to reduce its "greenhouse gas" emissions by 8 percent from 1990 levels by 2010. REUTERS NEWS SERVICE 7. http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=9227#top
