Sustainable Energy Law Notebook

The European Commission sent on 22 March 2012 reasons opinions - first stage in the infringement procedure before referring them to the Court - to four Member States for lacking transposition of EU l egislation on support to renewable energy sources (Directive 2009/28/EC) and energy labelling (Directive 2010/30/EU). The press releases are available below: Renewable energy: Finnish, Greek and Polish legislation still not in line with EU rules   Here the Commission comments that: " The timely transposition of EU legislation is a priority for the Commission, especially since unnecessary delays in implementing may jeopardize the achievement of the EU  renewable energy objective . However,  Finland, Greece, and Poland have not yet informed the Commission of the full transposition of the Directive into their national legislation ." Energy Labelling: Commission urges Czech Republic and Poland to adopt consumer-friendly legislation   The Commission sta...

EFTA Suveillance Authority (ESA) adopted on 15 March 2012 a decision not to raise objections under state aid rules concerning the financing by the Norwegian state of the development phase for the industrial carbon capture and storage (CCS) project in Mongstad . Hereafter is a copy of the press release published by ESA: " The Authority has already approved State aid to finance generic research in a small CCS facility at the Mongstad Test Centre. The Norwegian State will now finance technology and feasibility studies for an industrial scale CCS facility . These studies will be the basis for the decision on the financing of the construction and operation of the CCS facility, which the Norwegian Parliament (Stortinget) will take no later than 2016 . The aid for the development phase , which amounts to NOK 2.85 billion (EUR 375 million), is granted on the basis of an agreement between the State, Gassnova and Statoil . Under the terms of this contract, Statoil acts ...

NO Takk til nettmagasinet Energi og Klima for å ha publisert mitt innlegg om EUs Miljøråd konklusjoner om Low Cabron Economy Roadmap: No Decision on New Low-Carbon targets: What to conclude from the non-conclusions on new targets and Poland's opposition? EN Thanks to the  webmagazine  Energi og Klima  for publishing an updated version of my previous column on EU low-carbon economy targets. Available here:  No Decision on New Low-Carbon targets: What to conclude from the non-conclusions on new targets and Poland's opposition?  

The Council of the European Union (EU) held an Environment Council on 9 March 2009 , the first one under the Danish presidency. The Environment Council discussed energy, climate change and low-carbon economy, all issues that should be at the basis of a coherent energy policy for 2050 . The EU is currently discussing and drafting the concrete measures that will implement the low carbon economy Roadmap 2050 and Energy Roadmap 2050 . The Council was expected to adopt conclusions, i.e.  a  political endorsement, on the roadmap for moving to a low-carbon economy, but the resulting text reflects the opposition from one Member State in particular and the scepticism towards new "targets". The political debate concentrated around the opposition from Poland to endorse Commission's proposal to adopt further commitments as to the implementation of the low-carbon Roadmap . Poland's opposition to the adoption of any new measures was however expected , following declara...

The European Commission published on 7 March 2012 a new assessment of the implementation of EU environmental measures in the Member States. References : Communication, European Commission, " Improving the delivery of benefits from EU environmental measures: building confidence through better knowledge and responsiveness " . 07.03.2012, COM(2012) 95 final.

Olje- og Energidepartement la fram 2. mars 2012 sin nettmelding under tittelen " Vi bygger Norge - om utbygging av strømnettet " ( Stortingsmelding 14 (2011-2012 ).