Kyla's energy dispatch

Don't worry, you won't find the royal baby in these headlines...

Energydesk

Leaked nuclear state aid proposals spark controversy
Energydesk has obtained documents showing controversial plans by the European Commission to change existing rules and allow member states to provide direct state aid to nuclear power, but the leak has sparked controversy in Austria and Germany.

Can nuclear be built with state aid?
Negotiations between the UK government and EDF over the price to be paid for nuclear power are dragging and a row has now erupted on the continent over whether nuclear power can qualify for state aid. Steve Thomas from Greenwhich University unravels the hurdles facing any idea.

UK

Labour to oppose coal power subsidies
Labour will challenge government plans to allow coal power stations to bid for multi-million pound subsidies in the House of Lords today. These subsidies would extend the power plants' lives into the 2020s.

Climate change slowing due to warming oceans
British scientists say the recent slowdown of global temperature increases could be due to the slow warming of deep oceans. Oceans are some of the largest absorbers of heat. Despite the slowdown in warming, by 2060 the world is still likely to have experienced average temperatures of more than 2C above pre-industrial levels.

Local communities set to lose say in fracking controls
Local councils might no longer be able to investigate issues such as seismic activity, flaring and venting as well as the potential impact on ground water supplies before granting planning permission for new wells. Instead the Department of Energy and Climate Change, the Environment Agency and the Health and Safety Executive will take responsibility for regulation.

United Utilities and Cuadrilla discuss fracking
Lancashire water company, United Utilities, is in talks with Cuadrilla about exploring for shale gas on some of the 141,000 acres it owns in northwest England. The collaboration comes shortly after industry body Water UK warned fracking could lead to groundwater contamination and strain water supplies.

WORLD

Fukushima operator confirms water contamination
For the first time, the operator of  Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant acknolwedges that contaminated ground water had likely been flowing into the sea since the accident.

China to set stricter air quality controls
China's Environment Minister announced that China will issue a series of tough measures by the end of July to curb air pollution. The measures will target dangerous airborne particles.

First US wind auction to take place
The United States' first-ever lease sale for wind energy in federal waters will take place in just over a week. The area auctioned is expected to support more than 2,000 MW of wind generation.