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