Duitsland, Spanje en Frankrijk klagen over duurzaamheidsplannen (en)
EU energy commissioner Andris Piebalgs' i inbox is being filled up with letters from national capitals concerned about the European Commission's renewable energy plans.
Germany and Spain sent a letter to the commissioner on Monday (15 January) objecting to draft proposals that would encourage private firms to trade in renewable energy, according to a report from Reuters.
The commission is set to unveil its renewable energy proposals on 23 January.
The two governments are worried that such a system could threaten their current domestic 'feed-in' programmes. A feed-in system is an incentive structure that obliges electricity utilities to purchase renewable energy from such sources as solar, wind, biomass and geothermal power at above-market rates.
Feed-in tariffs have resulted in substantial growth in wind power in Germany and Spain, and Denmark as well.
Both Latvia and Slovenia support the letter, according to Reuters.
Meanwhile, French President Nicolas Sarkozy has sent a letter to commission President Jose Manuel Barroso objecting to the aim of raising to 20% the EU's share of renewable energy production by 2020, up from the current 8.5%.
Mr Sarkozy called the proposal "neither effective, nor equitable, nor economically sustainable," French daily Le Monde reports.
France would like to see special consideration for its heavy use of nuclear energy.
A range of member states have written to the commission outlining their concerns ahead of the renewables energy proposals.
Sweden would also like to receive special treatment, as some 40% percent of its energy production already comes from renewable sources.