EU clears Spanish plan for green cars
"This (measure) will allow important investments for the future low carbon economy which could have been put on hold due to the financial and economic crisis," Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes said in a statement.
Under the temporary scheme, Spanish authorities may provide subsidized loans until the end of 2009 with a maximum term of two years to the car and car component industry for investments in products that meet EU environmental product standards.
Last month, the Spanish government approved a 4 billion euro ($5.3 billion) package to support its auto industry after layoffs and stoppages at plants. The Commission had already said this scheme and another car aid plan from Italy did not breach EU state aid or internal-market rules.
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National Grid warns of short supply of electricity over next few days
LONDON - National Grid has warned that Britain’s electricity will be in short supply over the next few days after a string of unplanned power plant outages and unusually low wind speeds this week.
The electricity system operator said it will take action to “make sure there is enough generation” during the cold weather spell to prevent a second major blackout in as many years.
“Unusually low wind output coinciding with a number of generator outages means the cushion of spare capacity we operate the system with has been reduced,” the company told its Twitter followers.
“We’re exploring measures and actions to make…
