Europe is the world’s frontrunner in wind energy, and European governments are committed to aiding renewable energy entrepreneurs and investors. In April 2009, the EU passed a new Climate Action Directive. The Directive set goals for both increased use of renewable energy and decreases in greenhouse gas emissions. Despite this legislative success, the Climate Action Directive was widely criticized as insufficient and ineffective. Indeed, there are numerous substantive concessions given to industry in the emission reduction portion of the Directive. Dissenters argued the weaknesses of the emissions reduction Directive squandered the EU’s opportunity to be a world leader in energy reform. This Note argues otherwise, proposing that the shortcomings in the emissions reduction portion of the Directive in fact present great opportunity to develop and promote the renewable energy portion of the Directive. In particular, this Note argues there are unique regulatory opportunities for wind power to recoup the energy reform losses created by the shortcomings in the emissions reduction plan.
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