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Sweden says green power plan will lift prices |
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| SWEDEN: October 8, 2001 | ||
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STOCKHOLM - Swedish electricity prices will rise as a result of government plans to withdraw subsidies from the renewable sector and instead force consumers to buy more green power, Sweden's Industry Ministry said last week. "The price will become higher for the consumer... but we hope people will understand it is for the better and will be cheaper in the long run," Pernilla Axelsson, spokeswoman at the Industry Ministry, told Reuters.
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Axelsson declined to comment on a report from Swedish news radio programme Ekot which said the price could increase by about 20 Swedish crowns ($1.88) per year for end-users. The government has not yet decided how much of their power people must buy from green sources like solar, wind and biomass, said Axelsson, adding the scheme is due to start in 2003. Sweden wants to encourage the expansion of green power as part of its strategy to cut emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide which many scientists say are the main contributors to global warming. Producers of renewable power will be awarded so-called green certificates that they can sell to consumers and distributors who will have to prove to the government they have bought the required amount of green power. The plan also suggests subsidies to renewable energy schemes, which are more expensive than fossil fuel generated power, should be abolished as ordering increased use of green power will replace some of the lost financial support.
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REUTERS NEWS SERVICE
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