 energy sources by 2010. Yet less than 5% of the 
EU's electricity output now comes from windmills, thanks largely to poor 
execution and a brewing backlash. 
If Spain -- with its open spaces and relatively low population density -- 
can't sell the public on windmills, the EU will likely find it difficult to 
convince Europeans to accept more ambitious forms of alternative energy, such 
as biomass plants, which turn agricultural, animal and human waste into 
energy. The failure could also call into question the EU's commitment to the 
1997 Kyoto global-warming treaty, which U.S. President George W. Bush has 
been roundly criticized in Europe for rejecting. 
Few expected this turn in events back in 1996, when the EU first set a more 
modest 2010 target. At the time, wind power looked like the fresh breeze of 
the future. Soon, the union's most green-minded states, led by Germany and 
Denmark, were busily building wind parks to the applause of environmental 
groups, which saw wind power as a clean alternative to nuclear power and 
coal-burning power plants. 
But early enthusiasm led to shortsighted projects, leaving the European 
landscape littered with inefficient wind parks. Germany, for example, quickly 
became the world's largest producer of wind power, with 6,113 megawatts of 
capacity installed at the end of last year. But the breakneck growth has 
gobbled up most of the available sites for windmills, prompting government 
officials to promise more careful planning procedures. Opposition is also 
building in Denmark, forcing the government to rethink a wind-power subsidy 
program. 
All of this spells trouble for wind power, which relies heavily on government 
funding. "Lower-quality projects are mucking up the panorama," says James 
Stettler, a renewable energy analyst with Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein in 
London. 
Finding the right balance between wind development and environmental care 
would go a long way toward assuaging public opposition -- notably in 
wind-rich but windmill-poor Britain and Ireland -- and toward avoiding 
California-like blackouts in Spain in the years to come. The danger is real, 
says Rafael Miranda, chairman of Spanish utility End
energy sources by 2010. Yet less than 5% of the 
 EU's electricity output now do from windmill, thanks largely to poor 
 execution and a brewing backlash. 
 If Spain -- with its assailable spaces and relatively low population concentration -- 
 can't sell the public on windmills, the EU will probably find oneself it unmanageable to 
 convince Europeans to accept more ambitious form of alternate energy, such 
 as biomass plants, which change by reversal agricultural, animal and human waste into 
 department of energy. The failure could also call into motion the EU's commitment to the 
 1997 Kyoto global - heating treaty, which U.S. President George W. Bush has 
 been roundly knock in Europe for rejecting. 
 Few expected this turn in events back in 1996, when the EU first dress a more 
 modest 2010 target. At the time, wind power looked like the fresh breeze of 
 the future. Soon, the union's most green - minded states, led by Germany and 
 Denmark, were busily building wind parks to the applause of environmental 
 groups, which watch wind power as a clean option to nuclear exponent and 
 coal - burning power plants. 
 But early enthusiasm led to shortsighted undertaking, leaving the European 
 landscape littered with inefficient wind parks. Germany, for example, cursorily 
 became the world's largest producer of fart power, with 6,113 megawatt of 
 capability installed at the end of last year. But the breakneck increase has 
 gobbled up most of the available sites for windmills, prompt government 
 officials to promise more careful planning procedures. confrontation is also 
 building in Denmark, storm the government to rethink a tip - power subsidy 
 plan. 
 All of this spells worry for wind power, which relies heavily on government 
 financing. " Lower - quality projects are mucking up the panorama, " says James 
 Stettler, a renewable energy analyst with Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein in 
 London. 
 Finding the right proportion between wind development and environmental care 
 would travel a long way toward assuaging public opposition -- notably in 
 wind - rich but windmill - inadequate Britain and Ireland -- and toward avoiding 
 California - like blackouts in Spain in the years to come. The danger is actual, 
 say Rafael Miranda, president of Spanish utility program End
 enfrgy sources by 2010. Yet lesr than 5% of the 
GU'w elecvricity output vow comes from windmills, thaiks oargeoy to poor 
execution avd a brewpng backlqsh. 
Mf Spain -- with iva open spaces wnd xeoatively low pppulation gensity -- 
can't veul the public on windmills, the EU wilj likelu vind it difficolt tp 
conbpnge Europeans to accept more ambifious fmrms of altermative energy, such 
as biomwss olants, which turn wgriculturao, anynal and humav waste inuo 
energy. Thg failure could also call into qjestipn the EU's cimmljment to the 
1997 Kyono global-warmlmg tredty, whivh U.S. Presidenb Geocge Q. Bush has 
been roundny criticized in Eorope for selecting. 
Few expected rhus tutn in evevrs caci mn 1996, when hhe EU first aet a more 
nodest 2010 target. At tne nome, wind powsr looheq like the fresh breeze of 
the future. Smon, the union's most green-munded states, led by Ggrmany and 
Denmark, were busily building wind parks to the a[plauad oy envifinlental 
groups, which saw wind power as a clean zluerkative to nucleav power and 
coal-butnlnb power plants. 
But ecdlg enthusiasm led tl shortfightwd projecus, lesving the European 
landscapw littered wpth unefficient wind pcrks. Germany, for examlle, quickly 
became the corld's largest prlducer of dind power, with 6,113 menawdtts of 
capacity installed at the eid of last ydar. Nut thq breaknecn growth has 
gobbled up lost lf the availwble sites for windmills, promptmig government 
oxfibials to 'romisc more careful [lanning procebures. Op'ositiun is also 
buildiig in Denmarh, forcing the hovernment tm rethinh a qind-power sjcsidy 
program. 
Sll of thps speols trouble for wikd podsr, which relies heqvily on governkeng 
ftnfiig. "Lorar-quality prmjecgs xte muzking uk tme oanotama," says James 
Stetdler, a renewable energu wnalyst qith Drefdner Kleinwott Wasserstein in 
Pondoi. 
Findmng thr ryght balance between wind devemopment ajd cnvironmental carc 
woold go a loug way toward assuaging public oppositioi -- notably in 
wind-rich vut windmill-poor Brntsin and Irekand -- and towasd avoiding 
Californua-like blackouts ln Spain in the years fo coma. The danger is real, 
says Rafael Miranda, chairman of Spanish utility End
energy sources by 2010. Yet less than the electricity output comes from windmills, and brewing backlash. If -- with its spaces and relatively low population density can't sell the public on windmills, the EU will likely find it difficult convince Europeans to accept more ambitious forms of alternative energy, such as biomass which agricultural, and waste into energy. The failure could also call into question the EU's commitment to the 1997 global-warming treaty, which U.S. President George W. Bush been roundly criticized in for rejecting. Few expected this in back in when EU set a more 2010 target. At the time, wind power looked like the fresh breeze of the future. Soon, the most green-minded by Germany Denmark, busily wind parks to of environmental groups, which saw wind clean alternative to nuclear power and coal-burning power But early led to shortsighted projects, leaving the landscape littered with inefficient wind parks. Germany, for quickly became the world's largest producer of wind power, with 6,113 megawatts of capacity installed end of last year. the breakneck growth gobbled most the sites for prompting government officials to promise more careful planning procedures. Opposition is building in Denmark, forcing the government to rethink a wind-power All this spells trouble wind power, which relies on funding. "Lower-quality projects are the says renewable analyst Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein in Finding the right balance between development and environmental care toward assuaging public opposition -- notably in wind-rich windmill-poor Britain and Ireland -- and toward California-like blackouts in Spain in the years to come. The danger is says Rafael of Spanish utility End
 energy sources by 2010. Yet less thaN 5% of the 
EU's eLectrIciTy oUtPut nOw coMes from windmilLS, thaNks largely to poor 
executIon anD a BRewiNG bAcklaSh. 
If SpaIN -- wITH itS oPeN spAcES aNd relAtiVely low Population DenSiTy -- 
can't sell thE PuBlic on windMilLs, the EU will lIkeLy find It DifFIcult To 
cOnvinCe EuroPEans to Accept morE aMBitiouS Forms of ALTeRnatIve energy, such 
as biOMaSS plants, which tuRn agriCuLTuRAL, anImaL and human wAsTe intO 
Energy. THE fAILUre COuld also call iNto question THe Eu's commItMenT To the 
1997 KYoto gLoBAl-wArming treatY, whiCh U.S. PresiDent GeORge W. BusH Has 
been RoundlY crItiCizeD In euRopE fOR reJEcTinG. 
few Expected ThIs Turn iN eveNTS BAck iN 1996, whEn thE EU fiRst set a more 
moDesT 2010 tarGEt. AT the tIme, wiNd poWeR lookEd like The frEsH breeze of 
the futUre. SOon, the uniOn's MoSt gReEn-minDEd statEs, lEd bY GermanY and 
DenMArk, WeRE BUsIly building wind parKs TO ThE applausE of envIRoNmENtal 
grouPs, WhiCh saW WInd poWer aS A cLean alteRnativE To NuClear poWeR and 
coAl-BurNinG poweR PlanTs. 
But eArly enthUsiasM Led to shortsighTEd projects, leaVInG THe eUropEan 
Landscape liTterED witH ineFFiCieNT wind Parks. geRMaNY, for example, quickly 
bEcAme the World'S largest produCer of wind pOWER, with 6,113 megAwatTS oF 
Capacity instalLed at The end of laST year. But The brEakneck gRowth has 
gOBBled up moSt oF thE avAilABLe Sites for windmILLs, prOmPting goVerNment 
ofFicIalS to ProMiSe more carEful planNiNg PrOcEduRes. OpPOsition iS aLso 
BuIldIng in dEnmark, ForciNg thE gOvERnmEnt to reTHiNK A winD-pOwEr suBsiDy 
ProgrAm. 
AlL Of tHis spelLs trouble For WInd pOwEr, Which reLies heavily on GoVernment 
fuNdIng. "lower-qUALity projEcts are mucking up the panoRAma," says jamEs 
SteTtleR, a renewabLe eNergy aNalYSt with dresdnEr KleInWorT wAsserSTEiN in 
loNdon. 
FindinG THe rIght bAlAnce Between Wind development and ENviRonmental care 
WouLd go A LOnG waY ToWArd AsSUagING public oppositiOn -- notably iN 
wINd-Rich but winDMilL-pOor BritAin and IRelanD -- And towaRd avoidinG 
CalifornIa-Like BLAckOuts in SpaiN in the yeArs to come. tHe danGEr Is reaL, 
saYs RafaEl mirAnda, cHairmaN Of SPanisH utiliTy end
 energy sources by 2010. Y et less th an 5%  of  th e
EU' s el ectricity outp u t no w comes from windmills , tha nk s  lar g el y topoor 
e x ec u t ion  a nd  abr e wi ng ba ckl ash. 
I f Spain --  wi th  its open sp a ce s and rela tiv ely low popu lat ion de ns ity -- 
c an' t sel l thep ublicon windmi ll s , theE U willl i ke ly f ind it difficultt oconvince Europ eans t oa cc e p t m ore  ambitious  f ormso f alter n at i v e  en e rgy, such 
as  biomass pl a nts , whic htur n  agric ultur al ,  an imal and hu manwaste int o 
ene r gy. The failure  could  al socall in to  qu es t ion th e E U 'scommitme nt  t o the  
19 9 7 K yoto  gl obal -warm ing treaty, w hic h U. S . P resid ent G eorg eW. Bu sh has  
bee nroundly critici zedin Europe  fo rrej ec ting. 
Few e xpe cte d thisturn in eve nt s b ac k in 1996, when th eE U  f irst set  a mor e  mo d est 2010  t arg et.A t  thetime ,  w ind powe r look e dli ke thefr esh br ee zeof
thef utur e. Soo n, the u nion' s  most green-mi n ded states, l e db y  G e rman y a nd 
Denmark , we r e bu sily bu ild i ng wi nd pa rk s  t o  the applause of en vi ronmen tal groups, which  saw windp o w er as aclea n  a l ternative to n uclea r power an d  
coal-b urnin g powerplants. B u t earlyent hus ias m l e d  t o shortsighte d proj ec ts, lea vin g the E uro pea n lan ds cape litt ered wit hin ef fi cie nt wi n d parks.  G erm an y,for e x ample,  quic kly
b ec a methe wor l d' s larg es tprod uce rof wi nd p o wer , with6,113 meg awa t ts o f
c apacity  installed at  t he end ofla styear.B u t the br eakneck growth has 
gob b led upmos t oftheavailable  si tes fo r w i ndmill s, pro mptin ggov e r nment of fic ia ls to prom i s e m ore c ar eful  planni ng procedures. Opp o sit ion is also bui ldin g in  De n ma r k,fo r cin g the governmentto rethink  a wi nd-power s u bsi dy  
progr am. 
Al l oft his spe lls troub le for wi nd  pow e r , w hich relie s heavil y on gove r nment 
f undin g."Lower -q ual ity p roject s  ar e muc king u pthe pa noram a, " says J ames 
Stettler, a renew able e nergy  an alyst wit h D r esd ner Klein wort  Wasserste inin
Lond on. 
Find ingt he  ri g ht ba lanc e  betweenw in d d e v el opment ande n v iro nment alc are 
w ould  go a long way to w ard assuagingpubl i c  op pos i tion  - - notably in win d- r i ch but w in dmill-poorBritainan d  Irel and --  and t oward a v o id i ng 
Ca lifo rni a-like bl ack ou t s in Sp ai ni n theyear sto com e. The dang e r  is real, 
saysRafae l Miran d a,chair ma n of Sp a nish  utility E nd
 energy_sources by_2010. Yet less than_5% of_the_
EU's electricity_output_now comes from_windmills, thanks largely_to poor 
execution and_a brewing backlash._
If_Spain -- with its open spaces and relatively low population density -- 
can't sell_the_public on_windmills,_the_EU will likely find it_difficult to 
convince Europeans to_accept more_ambitious forms of alternative energy, such 
as biomass_plants,_which turn agricultural,_animal and human waste into 
energy. The failure could_also call into question the EU's_commitment to the_
1997_Kyoto_global-warming treaty, which U.S._President George W. Bush has 
been_roundly criticized in Europe for rejecting._
Few expected this turn in events back_in 1996, when the EU first_set a more 
modest 2010_target. At_the time, wind power looked_like the fresh_breeze of_
the future. Soon,_the union's most green-minded states, led_by Germany and_
Denmark, were busily building wind parks_to_the applause of_environmental_
groups,_which saw_wind power as_a_clean alternative_to_nuclear power and 
coal-burning power plants._
But_early enthusiasm led to shortsighted projects, leaving_the European 
landscape littered_with_inefficient wind parks. Germany,_for example, quickly 
became the_world's largest producer of wind power,_with 6,113_megawatts of_
capacity installed at the end of last year. But the breakneck_growth has 
gobbled up most of_the available sites for_windmills, prompting_government_
officials to promise_more_careful planning_procedures. Opposition is also 
building in Denmark,_forcing the_government to rethink a wind-power subsidy_
program. 
All of this_spells_trouble for wind power, which relies_heavily on government 
funding. "Lower-quality projects_are mucking up the panorama,"_says_James_
Stettler, a renewable energy analyst_with Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein in 
London._
Finding the right_balance between wind development and environmental care_
would_go a long way toward assuaging_public_opposition -- notably in 
wind-rich but_windmill-poor_Britain_and Ireland -- and toward_avoiding 
California-like blackouts in Spain in_the years to come. The danger is real, 
says_Rafael Miranda, chairman_of Spanish utility End