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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Hundreds facing hydro disconnection as bills pile up during winter ban
TORONTO - The first of May has taken on new meaning this year in Ontario.
It's when the province's ban on hydro disconnections during the winter months comes to an end.
Wendy Watson, the director of communications at Greater Sudbury Utilities, says signs of the approaching deadline could be seen in their office of the past few weeks.
"We've had quite an active stream of people into our front office to catch up on their accounts and also we've had a lot of people calling us to make payment arrangements or pay their bill or deal with their arrears," she says.
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Watson says there are…
