Gas rebranded as green energy by EU

[xchrom]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/may/29/gas-rebranded-green-energy-eu


A gas processing plant at the National Grid's liquid natural gas terminal on the Isle of Grain. Photograph: Chris Ratcliffe/Getty Images

Energy from gas power stations has been rebranded as a green, low-carbon source of power by a €80bn European Union programme, in a triumph of the deep-pocketed fossil fuel industry lobby over renewable forms of power.

In a secret document seen by the Guardian, a large slice of billions of euros of funds that are supposed to be devoted to research and development into renewables such as solar and wave power are likely to be diverted instead to subsidising the development of the well-established fossil fuel.

The news comes as a report from the respected International Energy Agency predicted a "golden age for gas" with global production of "unconventional" sources of gas (notably shale gas extracted by hydraulic fracturing or 'fracking') tripling by 2035.

The resulting drop in gas prices though risks stopping the development of renewable energy in its tracks, unless governments take action to support renewable technologies such as solar and wave power. "Renewable energy may be the victim of cheap gas prices if governments do not stick to their renewable support schemes," said the IEA's chief economist, Fatih Birol.

[GliderGuider]

1. Another facepalm moment brought to you by the fossil fuel lobby and politicians

[Nihil]

3. There are people here (on E/E) who would have you believe the same thing ...

(although one former proponent may be reconsidering due to the damage
caused by fracking).

Fossil fuel folk are falsifying f*ckers.

[NYC_SKP]

2. They're pulling the same shit here and, in California, want to call large hydro renewable...

...as a way of cheating their way to 33% by 2020 instead of doing the right thing.

SB 971, AB 1771...

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/asm/ab_1751-1800/ab_1771_cfa_20120413_151253_asm_comm.html

fuckers