The European Commission adopted the eagerly awaited “Action Plan on Biomasses” last week. It contains measures to promote the increased production and consumption of renewable energy sources, in particular those derived from the transformation of forestry products (wood), agriculture (cereals, sugar, oil-yielding plants, and recycled oils) and waste materials. The Plan, according to the Commissioner responsible for energy Andris Piebalgs, “will permit a reduction in the emission of greenhouse gases, protect employment in rural zones and limit the dependence of Europe in the field of energy imports, especially gas and petroleum”. It presents in detail twenty measures (“actions”), which ought to become operational by the end of 2006. The main attention is obviously dedicated to bio-fuels for transport, “a concrete response to the steep rise in oil prices”. The Commission further pledges to invest in the research and incentivation of biomasses also for heating and the production of electricity. Further info: http//europa.eu.int/comm/energy/res/biomass_action_plan/index_en.htm
