System Operator

Oettinger and Hedegaard face European Parliament hearings this week

Mr Günther Oettinger (Germany) and Ms Connie Hedegaard (Denmark) will face a European Parliament hearing on Thursday 14 and Friday 15 January, as the final phase in their bids to become the European Energy and Climate Action Commissioners respectively. A strong performance this week could signal their future positions as the new heavy-weights shaping the European agenda for the building of a new, modern power system capable of meeting the energy and climate challenges of the 21st century.

“Commissioners Piebalgs (Energy) and Dimas (Environment) have paved the way with crucial pieces of legislation, such as the 2009 Renewable Energy Directive and directives on reducing CO2. On that solid foundation, a New Energy Policy for Europe must be formulated and wind energy, as the most affordable zero-carbon technology, must be an essential component of it”, said Christian Kjaer, Chief Executive of the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA).

“The European wind power industry’s message for the new Commission and the new Parliament is that wind power can contribute significantly to all of the EU’s energy policy objectives – increased competitiveness, energy security and fighting climate change,” Kjaer added.

In an Action Plan for the new European Commission and Parliament setting out the wind industry’s priorities for the next four years, EWEA highlights the following key areas as vital steps to reach the EU energy and climate objectives:

• Building a European offshore power grid;
• Improved competition in the internal electricity market;
• New electricity infrastructure and ‘smart grids’;
• Increased R&D in wind power technology;
• Effective implementation of the 2009 Renewable Energy Directive.

“It is up to the European Parliamentarians to assess the candidates,” said Kjaer. I hope that the European wind power sector’s Action Plan will help them to judge whether Oettinger and Hedegaard are the right people for the job.”

www.ewea.org