Europe's Changing Energy Policy

Open Email to:
Rep. Fred Upton, Chairman House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Sen. Ron Wyden, Chairman Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee

Dear Rep. Upton and Sen. Wyden,
Der Spiegel is a German weekly news magazine published in Hamburg. It is one of Europe's largest publications of its kind, with a weekly circulation of more than one million. The International Edition recently had an article by Gregor Schmitz entitled, "Green Fade-Out: Europe to Ditch Climate Protection Goals". http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/european-commission-move-away-from-climate-protection-goals-a-943664.html. 
As one reads the article, it is apparent that the headline is a slight exaggeration. More correctly, there is consternation in the European Community on whether to continue to concentrate on renewable energy, such as wind, solar, and nuclear, as opposed to the traditional burning of carbon fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas.
Up to now, the European Union and its member countries have had a one-sided approach toward energy, which was concentration on renewables to the detriment of carbon containing fuels. This has also served as a model for the US government's position.
But the European position is changing. They are starting to concentrate on money, with more accent on carbon containing fuels which are cheaper sources of energy than renewables. European officials have apparently not given up embracing the unconfirmed theory that carbon dioxide from carbon containing fuels is responsible for global warming, but the present accent seems to be on cost savings.
One of the first moves toward increasing energy production from carbon containing fuels is likely to be consideration of fracking to enhance production of natural gas and oil. Natural gas and oil have been up to now in minor to nonexistent supply from traditional production methods. The new franking technology changes that picture significantly, providing it can be used in spite of continuing opposition from communistic environmental groups.