In a letter addressed to the four Congressional party leaders, April 26th, President Obama has urged them to adopt legislation abolishing the $ 4 billion worth of annual subsidies to the US oil and gas industry. This initiative is overdue. The US oil and gas industry has traditionally enjoyed a privileged status in the US… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

Over the last 30 years, wind turbines have become the second most important source of renewable energy in Europe. Denmark, Germany and Spain have been the leading countries driving the development, despite considerable public opposition. The development has been marked by: a trend towards bigger turbines, from 0.3 MW in the early years to a… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

For decades European countries have taxed gasoline, diesel and heating fuels on the simple basis of volume; and tax rates varied substantially among EU member countries beyond commonly agreed minimal rates. The European Commission finally wants to replace this system by a more coherent one based on the energy content. By the same occasion, it… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

Since the Libyan uprising began on February 17th in Tripoli – with the massacre of a delegation from Benghazi demanding more freedom and participation in government – the situation for Ghaddafi and his entourage has gotten worse and worse. The UNSEC resolution and the terrifying air strikes on military positions around Tripoli have started undermining… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

It is less than two years since the US Congress was in the middle of a heated debate on climate legislation, including a system for emission trading similar to that of the EU. When President Obama addressed students of the Georgetown University, on a “Blue Print for a secure Energy Future”, on 31 March, he… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

Syria will be the most repressive regime surviving in the Mediterranean after the hoped-for end of the Gaddafi clan. Since 1967 the “Assad Dynasty” has been in control of the country. An all-pervasive secret police and a powerful army have been able to impose “stability” ever since the Hama massacre in 1982. After the revolts… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

In the last two years our perception about energy and climate policy has undergone profound change: Global climate change has ceased to be the major concern. Resource and energy scarcities have become more urgent and concrete issues to address. The hopes for concluding an effective international climate agreement have almost evaporated. Instead, the major actors… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein