Policy: EU proposes common energy market with binding renewables targets

On 10 January 2007 the European Commission released ‘Energy for a Changing World’ an integrated energy and climate change package comprised of 9 major policy papers, namely:

• An Energy Policy for Europe
• Renewable Energy Road Map
• Progress in renewable electricity
• Progress in Biofuels
• Internal Market for Gas and Electricity
• Gas and Electricity Infrastructures
• Nuclear Energy
• Sustainable Power Generation from Fossil Fuels
• Strategic Energy Technology Plan

As part of the policy package, the EC committed to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20% below 1990 levels by 2020, in particular through energy measures.

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The European Commission has urged its members to sign up to this new common EU energy policy. There are three central pillars to the proposed integrated EU energy policy.
1) A true internal energy market;
2) Accelerating the shift to low-carbon energy;
3) Energy efficiency through the 20% target by 2020.
In addition, 10% of vehicle fuel should come from biofuels.

The EU wants to make these targets to be binding for the first time. It also wants to make sure all new power stations are carbon neutral in 13 years - they should be built in such a way that carbon can be captured and buried - as well as ensuring there is a big increase in renewable power like wind and wave energy.

The EU wants to fully open up the existing energy market to enable half a billion citizens to get their electricity or gas from anywhere else in Europe.

Media: Link

Impacts: 2006 warmest year in US

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has reported that 2006 was the warmest year in United States since record keeping began in 1895.

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Action: California introduces solar incentive programme

The California Pubic Utilities Commission (CPUC) has issued requirements for a new energy program that aims to make the state one of the world's biggest producers of solar energy.

The CPUC issued a guide about the rules for installing and operating solar photovoltaic projects. California aims to install 1 million rooftop solar panels on homes, businesses, farms, schools and public buildings over the next 10 years to produce 3,000 megawatts, or the equivalent of six large power plants.

The program has a budget of US$2.2 billion that will pay incentives for solar projects beginning on Jan. 1, 2007.

The solar handbook is available on the CPUC's Web site at: link

Action: Norwegian Government to offset employee flight emissions

Norway has announced plans to offset the greenhouse gases produced by public employees when they fly abroad by buying emissions credits. The government will buy credits to be invested in projects which reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

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