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January 30, 2012

Spain withdraws support for renewable energies

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© OCEANA

 

Last Friday, the Spanish Minister of Industry, Energy and Tourism, José Manuel Soria, announced a temporary cessation of government aid to renewable energy projects. This troubling decision comes at a time Spanish government continues to support and fund dirty energy, as well as new permits for oil and gas exploration, which damage our already overfished oceans and further climate change.

Oceana’s research director Ricardo Aguilar has this to say: “Now is not the time to stop funding an industry that is creating more jobs. Spain is a leading country on renewable energy, and this decision, which goes against our very own interests, does nothing but increase our dependence on foreign energy sources.”

Marine renewable energy has not been developed to its full potential, and this decision will make it impossible.

We hope this “temporary” lapse in judgement will be quickly reversed, and that the government continues to lead Spain towards a future in renewables.