{"id":45626,"date":"2021-12-22T10:54:07","date_gmt":"2021-12-22T10:54:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.climatechangenews.com\/?p=45626"},"modified":"2021-12-22T11:06:03","modified_gmt":"2021-12-22T11:06:03","slug":"brussels-sets-new-green-aid-rules-pragmatic-exceptions-gas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.climatechangenews.com\/2021\/12\/22\/brussels-sets-new-green-aid-rules-pragmatic-exceptions-gas\/","title":{"rendered":"Brussels sets out new green aid rules, with \u2018pragmatic exceptions\u2019 for gas"},"content":{"rendered":"

New state aid rules spelling out conditions under which EU governments are allowed to support companies on environmental grounds, boost clean energy, and phase out support for fossil fuels were unveiled by the European Commission on Tuesday (21 December).<\/strong><\/p>\n

The\u00a0guidelines<\/a>\u00a0seek to align EU state aid rules with the European Green Deal, focusing on supporting renewable energies and attaining the bloc\u2019s climate objectives.<\/p>\n

If an EU government wants to fund a project that is not in line with the EU\u2019s 2030 or 2050 climate targets, \u201cthe balance is not likely to tip in favour of supporting it with aid,\u201d said EU competition chief Margrethe Vestager who presented the new rules.<\/p>\n

The guidelines also include a new section on aid for the closure of coal, peat, and oil shale plants to facilitate decarbonisation in the power sector,\u00a0the EU executive said in a statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Once formally adopted early next year, the new guidelines will immediately apply to all EU legal texts. EU member states will have until 2024 to align their existing aid schemes with the new requirements.<\/p>\n

The guidelines broaden the scope of areas exempted from the EU\u2019s usually strict state aid rules, supporting new players in the energy field such as small scale renewable energy producers, Vestager explained.<\/p>\n

Other new areas covered include government support to improve the energy performance of buildings and clean mobility, such as infrastructure for electric vehicles, clean vessels and aircraft.<\/p>\n

UK floats<\/strong> ‘climate compatibility’ test for new oil and gas drilling<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

However, the new guidelines also inject \u201ca bit of pragmatism\u201d into state aid rules, added the Danish commissioner who singled out natural gas as \u201ca special case because for now, it acts as a bridge towards our path to more renewables.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut a bridge is not a destination, and state aid decisions will reflect hat logic. Our goal is and will remain phasing out our reliance on fossil fuel. And that includes gas,\u201d Vestager insisted.<\/p>\n

When pressed by reporters to elaborate further, the Danish commissioner said a \u201cspecial clause\u201d will apply to natural gas allowing for \u201cmember states with the lowest GDP to transition from coal to gas. Because they kind of need a helping hand in order to do so.\u201d<\/p>\n

That comment is likely aimed at EU countries like Poland, Greece, and Romania, which are heavily reliant on coal and planning investments in gas projects to displace it.<\/p>\n

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