European Cos. Seeking Money From EU to Fund the Development of an Offshore Wind Industry

Photo courtesy of Tambang.org, Energy Industry News.

In an ideal world, a government’s job should always be to do what’s best for the majority of its citizens. Green energy technologies have the potential to lower greenhouse gasses and leave more money in people’s pockets.

Caution flags should go up though when an industry makes an initial proposal to governments asking them for unspecified amounts of financing for the development of technologies and infrastructures.

The issue here is that over 140 company representatives from 38 countries have just signed what’s called the “European Offshore Wind Declaration.”

It calls on “national governments and the European Union to give the necessary political and legislative support to develop a new multi-billion Euro offshore wind industry,” said the European Wind Energy Association, which also drew up the declaration.

The association’s declaration pledges that its undersigners will ensure the availability of a “sufficient number” of equipment, including the following:

• Foundations.
• Cable laying vessels.
• Installation vessels and cranes.
• Cost-effective offshore turbines.

The association’s declaration also conversely makes requests including that the European Commission publish a Communications on Financing Low Carbon Technologies, “outlining sufficient budgetary support for innovation [so] that the offshore wind industry can operate 150 gig watts of offshore wind power in 2030.”

I am personally all for offshore wind energy. I just think there needs to be a lot of supervision to make sure tax money doesn’t get squandered, and that these plans don’t create any adverse affects on aquatic life.

Reader commentary and input is always welcomed!