Günther Oettinger named as new European Energy Commissioner

1 December 2009

José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, has unveiled his team of Commissioners for his second term at the helm of the European Commission. The new Energy Commissioner will be Günther Oettinger, current Minister-President of Baden-Württemberg in Germany.

Since 2005, when Oettinger became President of Baden-Württemberg, the Land has raised its targets for renewable energy. In 2007, the Land’s target for renewables was raised to 20 per cent of electricity by 2020, up from 11.8 per cent in 2006. Nonetheless, there is still very little wind energy production in the region; wind currently provides less than 0.5 per cent of electricity – a level well below the EU average.

‘The renewable energy targets have improved under Oettinger’s presidency, but the level of wind energy is still low,’ Christian Kjaer, chief executive of the European Wind Energy Association, said. ‘Wind has a huge potential for CO2-free electricity generation.’

‘Given the challenges lying ahead in meeting the EU’s 20% by 2020 target for renewable energy, I am absolutely confident we will build a very constructive working relationship with Oettinger. I have no doubt he appreciates the vast contribution that wind power can make to the security of Europe’s energy supply, job creation and combating global warming.’

Barroso also nominated Danish Minister for Climate and Energy, Connie Hedegaard to the new ‘climate action’ portfolio. Hedegaard will host the COP15 talks in Copenhagen this December. ‘She will be in her element in the new role,’ Kjaer said. ‘Hedegaard will need no convincing on the power of wind energy to fight climate change,’ Kjaer said. Over 20 per cent of Denmark’s electricity demand is met by wind power.

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This story was published on Tuesday, December 1st, 2009 at 5:11 pm and is filed under Europe, policy. You can follow any responses to article entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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