On Wednesday, European Commission officials unveiled an ambitious set of proposals to encourage investment and innovation in the European energy sector, reduce dependence on imports, and cut greenhouse gas emissions. We have already left behind our coal-based industrial past. It is time to embrace our low-carbon future, said EC President José Manuel Barroso. The proposal would move towards integrating energy policy in Europe, but falls short of creating a single energy market or breaking up national energy companies. Proposed emission cuts were also lower than previously planned, due to fears of lost profits and jobs. European Union leaders will debate and vote on the package at their March summit.
Source: James Kanter. European Union proposes cleaner, more competitive energy market. New York Times, January 11, 2007. Photo of wind turbines in Neuenkirchen, Germany, by Dirk Ingo Franke.
