Subsidies from an International Perspective

Green Energy on the Global Front

• Government Intervention

This is the common factor that strong green energy countries share. Laws and regulations are very important in the implementation of sustainable action. Most leading countries have a history of government support in the green energy industry.

"Yale University's ranking of 149 countries according to an environmental performance index (EPI)--a weighting of carbon and sulfur emissions, water purity and conservation practices" (The World's Greenest Countries). Link:149 Greenest Countries.

• Samsø, Denmark, The Next Frontier

"Private investors (e.g., local farmers) own nine of 11 land-based wind turbines and can depend on a government-guaranteed price for electricity. To meet the carbon-negative goal, the Danish government, the European Union, local households and companies, the Samsø municipality, and the energy utility cooperatively invested a total of 55 million euros. The government involvement solidified the investment and spurred green growth"(Energy Development in Island Nations: Samsø, Denmark, Strives to Become a Carbon-Neutral Island). Link: Edinenergy.org.

• The Green Leader, Switzerland

"The city of Basel- 5% of all customers’ energy bills are put into an Energy Saving Fund. The use of green roofs has been stimulated by a combination of financial incentives and building regulations. Building regulations have required the use of vegetation on roofs since their implementation in 2002. The city of Basel in Switzerland has the highest area of green roofs per capita in the world. Switzerland has strong legislative framework that promotes green ingenuity"(Carter, J., and A. Kazmierczak). Link:Grabs-eu.org.

• New international energy changes- Japan’s reaction to the Fukushima

"In the wake of a nuclear accident in March, 70 percent of Japanese now say they want to phase out atomic energy" (Langfitt).

• Japan's Wind And Solar Power development

"Last month, Japan's legislature passed a bill to subsidize wind and solar power. The measure requires power companies to buy solar and wind energy at inflated prices. The idea is to make it worthwhile for companies to invest in expensive technology and speed up Japan's shift toward renewable energy" (Langfitt).

• The Netherland Seeks Government Involvement

"Anne Bliek, Deputy Queen's Commissioner for the Province of Flevoland in the Netherlands explains some of the issues relating to renewable energy projects and their financing. She describes the problems caused by a change in government subsidies policies and why consistency is vital" (Renewable Energy Projects Need Consistent Government Policies.flv).