EU Divisions Emerge Over Guidelines To Phase Out Renewable Energy Subsidies

Less than 24 hours after the European Commission outlined a series of guidelines for phasing out renewable energy subsidies, divisions over the issue erupted between those concerned that government support for solar and wind energy is driving up consumer and industry energy costs and those insisting that a cutback is premature.

Climate Change Commissioner Connie Hedegaard said that renewable energies are at least six years away from being mature enough to compete with fossil fuels and nuclear power. A day earlier, European Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger emphasized the need to eventually phase out renewable energy subsidies in order to keep ...