Submission + - Gas and Nuclear Power Can Be 'Green' Under New EU Plan (wsj.com)
schwit1 writes: Officials from the European Commission, the EU’s executive body, have said natural gas and nuclear energy should be included in the taxonomy under certain conditions because they can help countries transition away from coal. Burning natural gas produces about half the carbon dioxide that is generated by coal, and nuclear-power plants don’t produce carbon dioxide when they are operating.
But environmentalists, lawmakers and some investors have argued the plan risks diluting investments in other projects such as renewable energy. Lawmakers also said their case against including natural gas in the taxonomy became stronger after Russia invaded Ukraine because of the EU’s heavy reliance on Russian gas.
Europe is racing to reduce its dependence on Moscow and is seeking liquefied natural gas from other countries, including the U.S., to replace Russian natural gas. Officials are also preparing for the possibility of a complete cutoff of gas supplies from Russia, which they have said could result in rationing.
But environmentalists, lawmakers and some investors have argued the plan risks diluting investments in other projects such as renewable energy. Lawmakers also said their case against including natural gas in the taxonomy became stronger after Russia invaded Ukraine because of the EU’s heavy reliance on Russian gas.
Europe is racing to reduce its dependence on Moscow and is seeking liquefied natural gas from other countries, including the U.S., to replace Russian natural gas. Officials are also preparing for the possibility of a complete cutoff of gas supplies from Russia, which they have said could result in rationing.
