Britain seeks loophole in EU green energy targets

[bananas]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/mar/29/renewableenergy.climatechange

Britain seeks loophole in EU green energy targets

Government wants clean power projects abroad to count towards UK quota
John Vidal, environment editor
The Guardian, Saturday March 29 2008

Link to this video http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/video/2008/mar/28/renewable.energy

<snip>

At a closed session of the energy council of ministers this month, the business minister, Lady Vadera, proposed that British investments in renewable energy anywhere in the world should count as part of UK's effort.

In a speech that astonished European renewable energy companies, environment groups and other EU energy ministers, she said: "It is imperative that cost-efficiency is at the heart of our approach ... Demand for renewable energy projects outside the EU should be considered ."

She also appealed to Europe to allow all EU countries to count carbon "saved" from coal-fired stations fitted with equipment that captures harmful greenhouse gas emissions. The electricity generated by this "clean coal" would then count as renewable energy and go towards UK national targets. "Member states might be further incentivised to support carbon capture projects if they were allowed in some way to contribute to the 2020 targets," she said.

<snip>

Last night renewable energy companies and environment groups reacted with alarm. "This would kill renewable energy in Britain," said Dale Vince, chief executive of Ecotricity, Britain's biggest windfarm company. "It makes a mockery of any attempts to address climate change. The idea that we can build wind farms or other renewable energy projects and then offset them against the UK target is outrageous. If it were possible to build projects anywhere in the world where planning is lax, nothing would be done in the UK."

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[Zachstar]

1. I agree to an extent.

The thought of smaller communities getting off the grid with these projects elseware it a good idea. Tho it needs to be met with equal determination on home fronts.

Perhaps a compromise? Windfarms elseware or whatever for widespread distribution of Electronic Ink devices that reduce the need for paper in the UK.

[NNadir]

2. It reminds one of Germany's plan to build nuclear plants in Slovakia.

The German so called "green" movement is enormously stupid and has set out to ban the world's largest, by far, source of climate change gas free energy - thus assuring a fossil fuel nightmare in Germany.

The only alternative that is left to rational Germans is to build nuclear power plants is other people's countries.

In fact, so called "renewable" energy doesn't work very well and has been failing in various countries now for decades. It's like paying to light candles in cathedrals now, and frankly, I would hate to be forced to pay for such indulgences for the benefit of religion.

[gear_head]

3. more carbon-offset wierdness .n/t