AMSTERDAM - five big energy concerns in the Netherlands have far staged plans to invest together for € 5 billion in high CO2 producing coal energy factories. Mean while these energy companies try fever to get themselves a green image by big advertising campaigns and tv comercials.

A investigation initiated by Green Peace and conducted by the Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations (SOMO), shows that the investments in green energy are not in proportion with the investments done in "dirty" coal energy factories. Lots of nice words but relatively little has been achieved.

For example "NUON" a Dutch energy company is sponsor of Live Earth and the TV commercials show loads of wind turbines. But they want to invest for € 1 billion in a coal energy factory build in the Eemshaven that will emit 6,4 million tons of CO2.

"Essent" an other Dutch energy company claims to be the inventor of green energy and has lots of advertising campaigns. But this company has also plans for a coal energy factory that will emit 5.6 million tons of CO2.

Energy company's rather invest in coal energy factories than in wind turbine parks through political and financial reasons. Nobody wants 20 - 30 wind turbines in his back yard. Constructing a wind turbine park in the sea is an expensive option. Coal energy factories are cheaper than wind parks and the energy companies feel the pressure from "The Hague" (Dutch political city) to keep the energy bills affordable.

With all the coal factories the Netherlands will not emit 30% less CO2 in accordance of 1990 like prime minister Balkenende of the Netherlands want to achieve. Even if we all use energy light bulbs instead of normal light bulbs.

The Dutch government wants to decrease the CO2 emission in 2020 by 30%. This is more than the average of other EU countries that want to achieve a reduction of 20%.

Source: The Financial Telegraaf