Coal loses the battle

[mostakimvip04]

Greenpeace hails the news of the withdrawal of Decree 134/2010, approved last month by the Council of Ministers to support the burning of domestic coal in Spanish thermal power plants, as a success. The decision was taken after learning of the European Commission's opposition to the measure. The environmental organization, which had filed objections to the regulation, was considering a legal challenge.

"The facts show that renewable energy has already defeated coal, and it is paradoxical that the government is determined to revive a sector destined to disappear while increasingly blocking the development of one of the leading sectors in Spain: renewable energy," stated José Luís García Ortega, head of the Greenpeace Climate Change and Energy Campaign. As an example, this afternoon, according to data from Red Eléctrica de España, renewables covered almost 60% of demand (wind power alone accounted for 27.8%), while coal contributed 2.4%.

The government is already working on a new version, which graphic design services Greenpeace considers unnecessary, as it is completely unjustified to economically promote the burning of domestic coal while compensating the power plants affected by this measure. The environmental organization points out that last September, Spain committed before the G8 to eliminate fossil fuel subsidies from its legal system. Therefore, it is inconsistent that in February 2010, in the midst of the economic crisis, it approved the contribution of more than 4.5 billion euros to the sector, passing this expense on to the tariff and, therefore, to the end consumer. Specifically, Greenpeace based its objections to Royal Decree 134/2010 on the following

points : - It is based on alleged restrictions to guarantee supply, which are completely unnecessary given the current Spanish energy landscape and, therefore, constitute a false assumption. - It is a patch to artificially delay the inevitable disappearance of an uncompetitive and highly polluting sector such as coal, increasing the total costs of the electricity system and altering market rules. - It has a significant, unjustifiable economic impact in a time of crisis such as the current one. - It does not promote employment and diverts public funds that should be used to promote strategic sectors for the future of the energy sector and the Spanish economy. - It harms renewable energy and, in general, the environment, and is completely incompatible with the measures required by the international fight against climate change. - It is completely contrary to European regulations on the matter.