Britain to Stay in EU Carbon Market until 2020
Britain intends to remain in Europe's emission trading system (ETS) until at least the end of its third trading phase running from 2013-2020, Britain's energy minister said on Wednesday. The status of Britain's participation in the scheme following the country's exit from the European Union in March 2019 had been unclear until now. Energy and clean growth minister Claire Perry said it had yet to be formally agreed with European lawmakers but the government wanted to provide certainty for companies covered by the scheme until at least the end of phase three.
French Court to Decide on Removal of Regulated Gas Tariffs
France's highest administrative court should decide by the end of July on the potential removal of regulated gas tariffs for consumers, sources close to the matter told Reuters on Monday. The ANODE association of alternative power and gas vendors filed a legal challenge against regulated gas tariffs with France's Conseil d'Etat in 2013. The council then sought the advice of the European Court of Justice, which in September 2016 ruled that regulated tariffs were an obstacle to a competitive market in natural gas. (Reporting by Benjamin Mallet; Writing by Mathieu Rosemain)
Poland Balks at EU Carbon Market Reform
Poland is challenging draft carbon market reforms agreed by most European Union governments this week, saying the deal is not-binding because it did not have the full backing of the bloc's 28 nations, the country's environment ministry said on Thursday. Poland does not rule out taking the issue to the European Court of Justice to unravel the legislation, once it is adopted, Environment Ministry spokesman Pawel Mucha told Reuters. Poland was among nine countries who opposed a deal backed by 19 EU environment ministers on long-awaited reforms of the Emission Trading System (ETS)…
Gazprom Cuts Flows via Opal Gas Pipeline After Polish Challenge Upheld
Russian gas deliveries to Germany via the Opal pipeline fell by around 30 percent on Wednesday after Poland successfully blocked a deal giving Gazprom a bigger share of the pipeline's capacity. Gazprom sends gas through the Nord Stream pipeline which runs along the Baltic Sea bed and links up with Opal in Germany but the Russian gas exporter faces curbs imposed by the European Union on how much of Opal it can use. Last year the EU approved a deal between Germany's energy regulator…
Germany's Highest Court to Rule on Nuclear Fuel Tax in 2017
Germany's highest court will decide next year on complaints brought by utilities against a tax on nuclear fuel rods, a spokesman said on Thursday, in a further challenge to the government's energy policy. E.ON, RWE and EnBW have demanded exemption from the tax, introduced in 2011, and are claiming back the roughly 5.8 billion euros ($6.2 billion) they have already paid. The tax requires companies to pay 145 euros per gram of nuclear fuel each time they exchange a fuel rod, usually about twice a year.
Trump Takes Scottish Windfarm Fight to UK's Top Court
Billionaire U.S. Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump took his long battle against windfarms near his Scottish golf course to the UK Supreme Court on Thursday. The property mogul - who says plans for 11 offshore turbines will spoil the view from his greens - has lost a series of battles in lower courts, and has vowed to go on to the European Court of Justice if he fails again in London. "Mr Trump does not want a wind farm 1 km (0.6 mile) away from his golf course," Trump's lawyer John Campbell said.
Austria Sues EU over UK Nuclear Plant
Austria launched legal action on Monday against the European Commission over its backing of British plans for the $24.9 billion development of the Hinkley Point nuclear power plant, Chancellor Werner Faymann said. The project, to be built by French utility EDF at Hinkley Point in southwest England, is crucial for Britain's plan to replace a fifth of its ageing nuclear power and coal plants over the coming decade while reducing carbon emissions. France sees Hinkley Point as a major export contract that will boost its nuclear industry.
EU: UK Courts Should Enforce UK NO2 Limits
Many areas of Britain breached NO2 limits since 2010; case to return to Britain's Supreme Court next year. The European Union's highest court ruled on Wednesday that Britain's courts have the authority to order the British government to comply with EU nitrogen dioxide limits as soon as possible, speeding up action to tackle the air pollutant. The case will now return to the British Supreme Court for a final ruling next year and it is likely to order the government to take action to meet limits in a much shorter timeframe than after 2030.
First New British Nuclear Plant in Decades Wins EU Funding Fight
A British plan to guarantee the price of power from its first new nuclear project in decades won European Union backing in a landmark ruling on Wednesday that now faces legal challenges. Seen as market-distorting state aid by opponents, the price guarantee was approved in a 16-to-5 vote with one abstention in a tense meeting of the College of Commissioners, sources told Reuters. Not all 28 members were present. The ruling clears the way for the 16-billion-pound ($26 billion) Hinkley Point C nuclear power station in southwest England to be operated by French utility EDF.
Austria to Sue if EU Regulator Clears UK Nuclear Plan
Austria will take the European Commission to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) if it approves Britain's plans for a 16 billion-pound ($26 billion) nuclear power plant, a spokesman for the chancellor said on Sunday. The deal to pay a guaranteed price for the power produced in the plant faces opposition from a quarter of EU policymakers, who want to overturn approval from the top European regulator. A vote is expected on Wednesday. The project, to be built by French utility EDF at Hinkley Point in southwest England…
EU's Top Court Asked to Rule on Industry's CO2 Permit Challenges
The Dutch national court has asked the European Court of Justice (ECJ) to rule on the legal challenges filed by heavy industry over how many free emissions permits they are due to receive through to 2020 under the EU's carbon market. The Dutch Council of State on Wednesday requested the ECJ, Europe's highest court, make a preliminary ruling on whether the European Commission had correctly calculated a reduction in the number of permits - subsidies worth billions of euros - that would be earmarked for industrial firms.
