EU could meet carbon targets more cheaply with gas than renewables, say gas firms

Europe could save €900bn (£762bn) and still hit its 2050 carbon reduction  targets if it built fewer wind farms and more gas plants, a coalition of  gas producers including Gazprom, Centrica and Qatar Petroleum has told  the European commission.

The industry is lobbying against the possibility of the commission setting new renewable energy targets and phasing out the use of gas. Next month, it will publish a draft "road map" energy strategy to 2050.

The  Guardian has obtained a copy of an unpublished report by consultancy McKinsey, commissioned by the European Gas Advocacy Forum, which also  includes ENI, E.On, GDF Suez, Shell and Statoil. The report, which has  been sent to the commission, describes gas as a clean, plentiful and  relatively cheap form of
energy.

It challenges the idea that renewable forms of energy should be the primary way to cut emissions.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/feb/13/gas-firms-lobby-europe-on-emissions