Europe is in a quandary. For years, it has claimed to be a global leader in fighting climate change and slashing carbon emissions. Now it finds itself running out of conventional gas and turning back to dirty coal. With its conventional gas fields nearly depleted and gas prices four times higher than in the United States, Europe would like to develop a thriving shale gas industry, but that seems unlikely in the near term. --Arthur Max, Midwest Energy News, 3 April 2013
The EU’s energy commissioner warned Germany not to rule out fracking, a controversial method of drilling for natural gas – saying it could hurt the country’s competitiveness, in an interview published on Tuesday. Günther Oettinger, Germany’s designated EU commissioner, criticised his country’s scepticism of fracking, telling the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung that research had fallen victim to the “emotional” debate over the issue. In his interview with FAZ, Oettinger said Germany must be prepared to take certain risks to remain competitive – and would be wise not to discount fracking altogether. --The Local, 2 April 2013
Europe’s declining competitiveness with U.S. industry has its leaders worried, but they admit having no hope of matching the shale revolution that is powering a revival of manufacturing across the Atlantic. For Europe to remain in the game, energy taxes must be held in check and no new taxes levied, said the European Union’s energy commissioner, Gunther Oettinger. --Arthur Max, Midwest Energy News, 3 April 2013
Europe’s commissioner for energy this week urged the continent to avoid new energy taxes or tax increases, reflecting that competition from cheap U.S.-produced shale gas is making energy more affordable in international markets. Guenther Oettinger told the Guardian, “To compete we must have a functioning internal market for electricity, with more competition (among energy suppliers).” Oettinger urged futher liberalization of energy markets to compete with US industry. EU manufacturers have been increasingly concerned about the impact of competition from the U.S. -–Daily Caller, 29 March 2013
British industry leaders have warned that the Government is ‘badly underestimating’ the effect of energy and climate change policies on the ceramics sector. ”Uncompetitive energy prices and poor energy security will drive energy intensive manufacturing off shore.” --Ann King, The Sentinel, 3 April 2013
A small British oil drilling firm has announced its intention to develop offshore fracking in the central North Sea. It claims there could be more oil and gas from unconventional technology than all of the output so far produced from the North Sea. --BBC News, 28 March 2013
Europe's cap-and-trade system for reducing the release of greenhouse gases is broken. "The most important tool of climate protection no longer works," says Eva Filzmoser of Carbon Market Watch in Brussels. "The [emissions] trade has turned into a big flop," she says, "a system of fraud." --Spiegel Online, 3 April 2013
