The UK had an effective plan for consumers to save energy and save money. This week the UK Chancellor and the six biggest energy suppliers connived to kill it, and together they have handed a sobering message to the rest of Europe that if you want to save energy, don’t trust the energy companies. Since … Continue reading Power politics – perplexing
Tag: national policies
Quote of the week
Caroline Lucas, British Member of Parliament for Brighton Pavilion, wrote in the Guardian this week about changes to energy efficiency policies in the UK: "Going green does not have to cost the Earth," the chancellor said, apparently without a hint of irony – shortly after confirming that the Energy Companies Obligation [editor’s note: the energy … Continue reading Quote of the week
German farms taking advantage of renewable energy
These are strange days when farmers are making more money from producing electricity than growing crops or raising animals. But these days, many German farmers are taking advantage of renewable energy policies and financial incentives to supplement their incomes. Jeevan Vasagar writes an excellent article in the Financial Times about the situation in Reussenköge in … Continue reading German farms taking advantage of renewable energy
How important is a warm home?
A survey was recently undertaken in the UK to gauge how important energy efficiency measures are in terms of infrastructure projects. The results are reported on the Energy & Environment Management website. Hopefully decision-makers will take heed. Warmer homes more important than rail and road, says UK public Making homes more energy efficient is a … Continue reading How important is a warm home?
Spain worries about lawsuits on renewable energy
Jose Elías Rodríguez and Andrés González write for the Reuter’s news service about the changes that the Spanish government is making to its renewable energy laws in order to avoid lawsuits because of the cuts in subsidies.Spain revising renewable energy laws to avoid lawsuits - sourcesSpain's government is rewriting planned new rules on renewable energy … Continue reading Spain worries about lawsuits on renewable energy
Take note . . .
There are many interesting brief new reports or news items that should interest EiD readers. • New Germanwatch report: The End of EU Climate Leadership The EU is no longer the world leader on climate policies. Other major countries have caught up or even outpaced the EU, a new study conducted by Germanwatch says. Even … Continue reading Take note . . .
China looking to energy efficiency to address urban air quality problems
China is facing pollution challenges today similar to what Los Angeles faced during the 1980s, a problem that energy efficiency helped mitigate. In China, combining cleaner heating fuels with better-insulated buildings is one concrete measure that would support cleaner skies in northern China and beyond, Clay Stranger writes in the Christian Science Monitor. China smog: … Continue reading China looking to energy efficiency to address urban air quality problems
Poland looks to coal for its future
Poland is struggling to get its energy policy priorities right. It has a lot of domestic coal. It does not want to be dependent on Russia for energy imports. It wants a competitive economy. These are not easy to find the right balance. Danny Hakim and Mateusz Zurawik write an excellent article in the New … Continue reading Poland looks to coal for its future
Serbia’s evolving energy system
Serbia is beginning negotiations to join the European Union. It has been developing its energy system and its policies are following EU requirements through its obligations in the Energy Community. Andrew MacDowall writes in the Financial Times about the push to promote renewable energy as well as discussing the energy policy priorities, which interestingly omits … Continue reading Serbia’s evolving energy system
Keep on truckin’
This week the French government was forced to back down on an “ecotax” on trucks larger than 3.5 tonnes. John Litchfield gives a good account in the Independent. What he does not say is that the revenue to the French budget was to be about €1 billion per year and that already €800 million had … Continue reading Keep on truckin’
Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen 