Committee of the regions backs Commission plan to encourage use of renewable energy sources
The Committee of the regions opinion on the proposals for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the promotion of electricity from renewable energy sources in the internal electricity market, has now been published in the Official Journal of the European Communities. In the opinion, the Committee of the regions backs the Commission's plan for Member States to introduce a certification of origin scheme 'in order to permit effective trade in renewable sources of energy and also secure complete transparency in consumer choice.' While it begins its response by questioning the Commission's assertion that Europeans will become increasingly prepared to pay more for electricity from renewable energy sources, it welcomes the Commission's determination to create a framework which helps to increase significantly the share of electricity for renewable sources within the EU. This is 'also a key step towards cutting greenhouse gas emissions to protect the climate, as agreed in Kyoto,' the Committee says. It stresses the need for joint efforts to meet targets to double renewable energy's share of the EU's gross inland energy consumption by 2010 and underlines the need for measures to ensure the potential of the market for renewable energy is better exploited within the framework of the internal energy market. The Committee shares the Commission's view that the obligation for Member States to set targets for domestic renewable energy consumption is 'likely to give an important impetus to the development of the renewable energy sector'. However, it advises that Member States should be left to themselves to select appropriate measures to maximise the potential of the renewable energy sectors in their country. 'Member States' efforts to boost renewable energy use are hampered if uncertainty remains about which measures are consistent with Community law and the decision making process lack sufficient transparency,' adds the Committee. It also suggests that tax relief for renewable energy could be used as one of a number of measures to encourage the use of renewable energy sources. And it 'takes the view that water power, as an important stimulus for renewable energy sources in a community strategy, should clearly be classified as a renewable energy source, regardless of the output of the plant.' After making further recommendations on the application of legislation to encourage the use of renewable energy sources in the Member States, the Committee concludes: 'An immediate entry into force of the directive would create a dynamic for increasing levels if renewable energy sources in the EU that would not only benefit citizens and the economy but would also provide a major boost to Member State's renewable energy sources plant and equipment sector, with a correspondingly favourable impact on jobs.'