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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Sudbury Hydro crews aim to reconnect service after storm
SUDBURY - About 300 Sudbury Hydro customers are still without power Thursday after Monday's powerful microburst storm.
The utility's spokesperson, Wendy Watson, says the power in the affected New Sudbury neighbourhoods should be back on by the weekend.
The storm, which Environment Canada said was classified as a microburst or straight line wind damage, downed a number of power lines in the city.
Now crews are struggling with access to the lines as they work to reconnect service in the area.
"In some cases, you can't get to someone's back yard, or you have to go through the neighbour's yard," Watson said.
"We have one…
