- Germany may snu on skifergass – E24

According to the Financial Times should the German government before summer treat a case where it aims to repeal the law that currently prohibits the extraction of shale gas.

production of shale gas is highly controversial, not only because it contributes to increased production of fossil fuels, but also because the production method is considered as highly polluting.

Self-contained

The gas is extracted through what is called hydraulic fracturing, in which fluid is pumped into the shale underground. It gets the rock to break up and release the gas. The liquid is left, and critics claim it to pollute groundwater. In addition to polluting the groundwater claim critics that the method is wasteful of water, it releases harmful methane gas and that it can create small local earthquakes.

extraction of shale gas has revolutionized the energy sector in recent years. In the U.S., shale gas made the country self-sufficient in gas and extraction of shale oil can in turn make the country self-sufficient in oil as well.

It is estimated that under German soil may be located 2.3 trillion cubic feet of gas. This corresponds to about 10 years of full production on the Norwegian continental shelf.

Until recently, German Law – firmly rooted in public opinion – prevented recovered by the German gas reserves.

Beer resistance

But the geopolitical changes, with a more “aggressive” Russia has made European leaders more concerned with new energy supplies. By producing their own gas Germany can reduce its dependence on Russia.

The possible legislative changes for shale gas in Germany should have been known by a note, the German Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel sent to parliament’s budget committee.

The paper writes Gabriel that an amendment that allows for “fracking” will include strict environmental requirements. Basically looking Gabriel for that local authority water experts should have veto power, and Gabriel writes that it may be appropriate to further “insurance”.

Among those who have expressed clear opposition to shale gas production, the German Breweries, who fear that the process will contaminate the water they use for beer.

Høie: – Rape not reason enough to abortion after 22 weeks – ABC News

Helseminister Bent Høie sendte tirsdag forslaget om abortregler på høring. Foto: Berit Roald / NTB scanpix.

Helseminister Bent Høie (H) foreslår 22 uker av svangerskapet som grense for senabort. Han presiserer at heller ikke voldtekt er grunn nok, slik forskriften allerede er i dag.

Tirsdag 27.05.2014, kl. 18:42

Oppdatert: Tirsdag 27.05.2014, kl. 19:32

Abort etter uke 22 skal ikke innvilges med mindre fosterets tilstand er uforenlig med liv eller truer morens liv og helse, kommer det fram i forslaget til abortforskrift som helseministeren tirsdag sendte på høring, skriver Aftenposten.

Ensartet praksis

Helseministeren presiserer at abortgrensen er ved 22. uke i svangerskapet, i likhet med hva Helsedirektoratet nylig ga som råd.

– Det er svært viktig med ensartet og riktig praktisering av regelverket i disse vanskelige sakene. Presiseringen i abortforskriften som vi nå sender på høring, sikrer dette, sier helseministeren.

Les også: Høie sender nytt abortforslag på høring

– Det har aldri vært tillatt med abort på fostre i Norge etter grensen for levedyktighet. Heller ikke på sosial indikasjon eller etter voldtekt. Unntaket er hvis det er fare for mors liv og helse, eller hvis fosteret har en tilstand som er uforenlig med liv, fortsetter han.

Ekspertgruppe

I høringsnotatet heter det blant annet at departementet slutter seg til forslaget fra en ekspertgruppe om å forskriftsfeste fullgåtte 22 svangerskapsuker (21+6) som en yttergrense for abort, da fosteret ifølge notatet antas å være levedyktig.

Vurderingen til ekspertgruppen kom etter at jordmødre ved Rikshospitalet varslet om at de fryktet det hadde funnet sted aborter i strid med regelverket ved sykehuset.

«Det må antas at fosteret kan være levedyktig fra fullgåtte 22 svangerskapsuker (22+0), og det vil dermed ikke være tillatt med abortinngrep.Departementet foreslår derfor endringer i abortforskriften § 18 som skal tydeliggjøre hva som skal til for at det er «grunn til å anta at fosteret er levedyktig», jf. abortloven § 2 siste ledd», står det å lese høringsnotatet.

Høringsfristen går ut 1. oktober 2014.

Have the greatest faith in the regional municipality of sunnfjord – Firdaposten

– I am very happy with the situation today. Naustdal is a good municipality to live in and we have population growth. But certain it is constrained from central government to organize new and larger municipalities, so I think that the big regional municipalities is the best. Sunnfjord as a regional municipality with 50,000 inhabitants in a highly residential and working area, may be the major growth area between Bergen and Ålesund, he believes.

Myrvang have studied the note to Nivi Analysis, Report 2013:2, which describes the formation of regional municipalities.

Challenges

Nivi shows that the current municipal structure is not in accordance with the development of society and the new Transport and Communications structure. There are challenges in the Oslo region where 1 milllion inhabitants today are divided into 11 municipalities and 3 county. In 9 other urban inhabitants are also divided into several municipalities. There are examples of 35 smaller urban places that are also shared by municipal boundaries. Other places are the rural municipalities with small acreage shallows new Transport and Communications pattern has an unnatural municipal border. The country also has 25 micro municipalities with less than 1000 inhabitants and long geographical distances.

Sketch the solution:

1 Nivi envisages that the largest municipalities (over 100,000 inhabitants) and can take responsibility for most of the county / state responsibilities. Here one thinks that metropolitan municipalities have a separate additional charge of secondary education, roads, Transport and Communications and public transport.

2 Establishment of generalist municipalities with over 10,000 inhabitants of the country. They can take over responsibility for business development, regional and rural policy instruments, dental health, cultural heritage, regional planning, culture and sports and forvatning of public subsidies. They should have an unambiguous community center, but due to geographical challenges can be opened for decentralized service and the like.

3 municipalities with the exception of the metropolitan municipalities have lovgregulerte regional solutions for secondary and Transport and Communications sector.

4 State takes over responsibility for national and regional Transport and Communications network.

sunnfjord

If the government would use force, see Myrvang for that region municipality sunnfjord can be a growth- winner. He believes it to be considered long distances in that it is formed local service and municipal district organization.

– We know that when the discussion about the community center starts, then stops the process up. Therefore, we must think about it as much as possible decentralized within a possible new large regional municipality But central matter is that planning is based on the development of strong residential and employment regions.

Lack of knowledge about the signs on loose gravel – Bike.no

County Secretary Harry Karlsen called 175 (Vegmeldingsentralen) to report the matter. According NMCUs website took Karlsen even the trip to Fv453 two hours later to look into the matter. The signs were inadequate, and there were large amounts of gravel in the roadway.

County Secretary Karlsen called 175 a half hour later and reported the case for the second time. The person at 175 defended himself that it was normal procedure that repairs holes and cracks are covered with sand afterwards. Karlsen said that it’s probably true, but then it must parted correct. Karlsen referred several times to the note from director Lars Erik Hauer in Roads, dated 2 May 2012 (Removal of loose gravel for cover repairs).

Vegmeldingsentralen seemed not very cooperative and said Karlsen did take this up with NPRA morning. That there could be an accident in the meantime was not interested in talking about. Harry Karlsen replied: – You can choose who you want me to talk to. You want to make sure that some of the responsible contractor calling me or do you want me to talk to the newspaper? After approx. 50 minutes called the county clerk again to 175 since no one had contacted him. One person responded and said the case was forwarded to NCC Roads, which would call Karlsen.

State Secretary reminded enough once the seriousness and whether it would happen one motorcycle accident due to inadequate signs that night, NMCU would proceed with the case. The representative of 175 stated that she had never heard of the note from the Directorate of Public Roads.

While Karlsen talked to 175, called it from NCC Roads. The caller said he had not known the sign rules before an employee of NCC Roads had shown him a copy of the motorcycle magazine, where it was an article about the case. After various arguments back and forth where the NCC thought it was good enough to boast rubble and that signs would be in place and the road swept day, said county secretary Karlsen that he intended to remain at the location of the signs were in place, and that the contractor would be held responsible if an accident happened in the meantime.

Approximately one hour later, the signs changed and the road swept.

What surprised NMCU Vest-Agder most of the matter is that NCC Roads claimed not to have received the note about motorcycle signs sent by the Norwegian Public Roads Administration and therefore not aware of the new rules from 2012.

Investors in full war – Telemarksavisa

It happened in the days when Stoltenberg two government came to power, that Stein Birger Johnsen went to the mountains. Skien man had for many years practiced as a lawyer in Telemark, but now in 2005 he would later in life. Cabin market was on the rise and Stein Birger Johnsen wanted to have their piece of the action. 25 September 2005, he writes purchase agreement with the landowner and the police Tov Svalastog a larger area in Holtardalen in Rauland. The parties agree on a price of five million “except 20 optional plots of up to 1,000 square meters, a total of 20,000 square meters called the property” as it is called in the purchase contract. It is thus Stein Birger Johnsen personally purchasing the land area is intended for hytteutbygging.

ESTABLISHED COMPANY

Stein Birger Johnsen at this time was in the process of establishing a project and development company to address the major developments that lie ahead of him. In September 2005, sending back office application for urgent registration of Rauland Invest AS to Brønnøysundregistrene, “because it is negotiated agreements with a limit of 70 million dollars and one relies on rapidly gaining organization to get formalized agreements.”

20 December 2005 Staples Stein Birger Johnsen Rauland Invest AS ten million in capital and with himself as sole shareholder through Nicco Holding AS.

What’s going on behind the scenes?

The incorporation of Brønnøysundregistrene, dated 20 December 2005 states that “Rauland Invest stapled with cash contributions related to a piece of property gnr. 159, title no. 1 in Vinje, a total of approx. 500 plots of land zoned for second homes, by staples transfer area per date of incorporation. ” There was only one catch to the memorandum. The actual area was first zoned for second homes of Vinje council a half years later, on 15 June 2006. Then the plan approved

– This is outright lead Brønnøysundregistrene and government deceived, mean current chairman of Rauland Invest AS, Erlend Follegg who came in ownership much later.

BUILT OUT

Stein Birger Johnsen comments: In the first plan from 15 June 2006 a large number of devices. Today, it built 300 units.

– Rauland Invest has sold enormously, almost 300 units in the first stage, Johnsen says that emphasize the following:

It was very clear guidelines in the municipal sector plan for the development of Holtardalen. The decisive when it was founded was the great values ??that lay here and these values ??are then also later confirmed. It is sold plots of countless million, which underpins the valuation.

Ribba Christmas 2005 with family Johnsen probably tasted very good. Same day Rauland Invest AS was founded, with Stein Birger Johnsen as sole shareholder transferred the land area was purchased from Tov Svalstog five million to Rauland Invest AS of NOK 25 million. This area is experiencing consequently an increase of NOK 20 million over two and a half months without anything had happened regulatory.

Had Tov Svalastog sold at a ridiculously low price, or ran Stein Birger Johnsen plays with banks and blew up the values? In the statement in connection with the foundation of Rauland Invest AS, dated 20 December 2005 states anyway. “

transfer is carried to a sober, estimated market value based on the valuation of the transferred property, conducted by Focus Krogsveen of property development Torbjørn Meli. ”

– The decisive for the valuation of the property is the real value. How to describe the regulatory status and the number is irrelevant. The property was worth at least it was put in valuation. It has proven sales, says Johnsen.

AND THEN CAME THE BANK

Then in 2005 ebbed could Stein Birger Johnsen take stock, kindly accompanied by Auditor Arne Lund Set of Vital audit AS in Skien. Now put Birger Johnsen with its newly Rauland Invest AS with land values ??25 million ten million in capital and a personal claim against the construction company 16 million.

In addition, the auditor confirms that the values ??assumed by the new company has a value equivalent to the share deposit and debt. For Holla and Lunde Sparebank, with the then General Manager Iver Juell was not difficult to pray. They must surely have thought the valuations of Focus Krogsveen and OK stamp from the auditor. This gave the bank NOK 16 million in loans to Rauland Invest AS.

Stein Birger Johnsen had now made a bullet, bought a blank area on private hand five million and sold it on to his own company for 25 million dollars. In 2006 he transfers money from Holla and Lunde Sparebank for his own company Nicco Holding AS which is now credited with 16 million. But he must of course tax gain of NOK 20 million.

20 December 2005 confirming the registered auditor Tracey Jakobsen Vital audit AS in Skien opening balance Rauland Invest AS. Plot and bank deposits of NOK 26 million, payable to Holla and Lunde savings bank 16 million and capital ten million dollars.

This set bank with a lot of risk and Stein Birger Johnsen’s personal tax capital exploded. Stein Birger Johnsen had become a prosperous man, and when the personal equation for 2006, filed his tax assets 16,314,000 million reflected through ownership of Nicco Holding AS. In addition, he controlled solid Rauland Invest AS based on Krogsveen valuation.

But the financial crisis had not yet reached the Kingdom of Norway and Holla and Lunde savings bank was aggressive. In 2006, they increase their exposure in Rauland Invest AS to a commitment of 25 million and now set the same plot of land as collateral 35 million in loans.

APPROVED BY AUDITORS

Stein Birger Johnsen emphasizes that the value was approved by the auditor with the assistance of Ernst & Young and that a tax audit in 2008 did not lead notes.

– The transactions were known to all involved, including my company and bank, he said. As a result, the gain of NOK 20 million he had tax 5.6 million.

Then the years, the speculators who drove the pike in the reeds and caught one buyer after another. Here we found them all, bankruptcy riders, naive banks, investors in pretty outfits that now and then did a bullet. But the fools in the mountains, so TA wrote in 2008. For this is the story of the new fool in the mountains, the two project developers who have not managed to find together since 2011?

NEW SHAREHOLDERS

Erlend Follegg from Skien ran for their time and sold some condos in Holtardalen and he with the power and dynamism entrepreneurial Johnsen developed Holtardalen. In 2011 he agreed with Stein Birger Johnsen to go into Rauland Invest AS. Where stops mostly consensus for since there has been trouble. Today they have a single ambition. To be reconciled.

– I guess I have faith that Erlend and I are good friends. My view is that such a big business that we do not have so disagreed owners and we must therefore find enough back to the good relationship we had from the start, says Stein Birger Johnsen, who is a director of Rauland Invest AS. Chairman Erlend Follegg have the same ambition.

Initially, it was intended that Stein Birger Johnsen via his own company Nicco Holding AS should be diluted to 40 percent in Rauland Invest AS, Erlend Follegg should have similar interest while a third person who later withdrew itself would sit at 20 percent. Erlend Follegg says he paid NOK 6.5 million in two transactions and the remaining 3.5 million kroner sales credit. Ten million paid claims Follegg up half the shares. Stein Birger Johnsen sees it differently and believes partner today only 22 percent of the shares based on 25 million in enterprise value and 5.5 million paid. There is the case.

– I regret having sold some of my shares in Rauland Invest AS to the new co-shareholders Erlend Follegg without the consent of Holla and Lunde Sparebank who had pledged the shares. This was an undesirable situation. I was not focused enough, while I thought that the bank was informed orally. It came to a clarification of the bank through an agreement and the matter has not been an issue since, says Johnsen. Erlend Follegg confirms that this went smoothly, even though he paid for the pledged shares long before they were recognized in Shareholders. According to him, Holla and Lunde Sparebank have reacted very strongly to the transfer of the pledged shares took place without being informed.

ATTORNEYS AT PATH

Erlend Follegg has hired law firm firm in dispute with Stein Birger Johnsen. According to a preliminary memo from the law firm’s value increase of land area in Holtardalen regarded as a kind of masked dividends. Those who have received this benefit has a duty to restore the relationship. It clearly means that an undue increase in value shall be refunded company. But the law firm is also looking at other factors that Erlend Follegg have reacted.

Stein Birger Johnsen namely providing services to Rauland Invest AS by invoicing from their business law firm Stein Birger Johnsen AS. The current hourly rate is 1000. Following amounts (rounded) are billed according to the documentation: In 2009, NOK 1.3 million dollars, in 2010 close to 1.8 million, in 2011 2.4 million in 2012 and NOK 2.4 million in 2013 to NOK 3 , 4,000,000 crowns.

– I think this is bottling company in violation of Conduct. This is trade between related parties that have not been addressed in the General Assembly says Follegg.

The Companies Act section 3-8 states:

“An agreement between the company and a shareholder, the shareholder’s parent company, any director or chief leader is not binding on the company unless the agreement is approved by the general meeting if the company’s performance has a fair value that represents over one-tenth of the share capital at the date of acquisition or disposal. ” And in paragraph 7.3. “

Has there been payment from the company in violation of the provisions of the Act, the recipient shall return the received”.

– I have not been familiar with the scope of this drain, To my lawyer look it needs substantial funds returned Rauland Invest AS, he said. Stein Birger Johnsen says the following:

– I work long hours, mostly pay on my debts are around six million, live no life in clover. It is so permanent boundary and another will have on me at full speed. Most other builders in Rauland has generally had significantly greater income than me, says Johnsen He takes out an annual salary of less than half a million from the law firm

– I emphasize that the invoicing of Rauland Invest AS will cover my salary, two secretaries and other operating expenses of my law firm. It’s only just this company going around.

In between it all, Rauland Invest AS, according to Stein Birger Johnsen substantial claims against Follegg company Brekkestø Invest AS. This claim relates to the sale of land in Holtardalen. Whatever is fact. There are stone Birger Johnsen has been and is the driving force in Rauland Invest AS. Fellow shareholders Follegg have chosen a more withdrawn role. Stein Birger Johnsen says so.

– I firmly believe Follegg are out to create trouble and turmoil to get care company.

It rejects Erlend Follegg categorically saying among other things he last summer were offered to buy out the shares of Johnson, an offer he accepted.

WHAT NOW?

Stein Birger Johnsen is prepared to come to terms with co-shareholder Follegg.

– I’ve kept a brisk pace and believed in what I do as a destination builder and contributor. I see now that part has not been satisfied participants on the journey. I have obviously had enough peripheral vision and no focus on the rearview mirror. Those who may have been there, dissatisfied with myself and I can enjoy the when any of my pride now be punished. I have little sympathy in many places, says Johnsen and on. I’ve obviously been too high on myself and will probably have to involve me less in the future.

Stein Birger Johnsen fear what is happening can be really bad and will affect what he can spend time to come.

– I think I can say that the conflict that has now arisen inevitably affect what I can spend time and engage in forward, in such cases it quickly becomes a fight to the death . I’m betting that there is nothing left when the storm once settles but is open to buying out Erlend Follegg from Rauland Invest more than what he paid for the shares.

Sommarskisenter on billigsal – Sunnmørsposten

No. will Stryn, Moods of Norway Nordfjord Meat rid of the center – at the same time it is clear that the center will continue inside remained open season with the planned opening May 29.

Councillor Per Kristian Storevik in Stryn not going to hide that he wants a summer skiing in the municipality in the future.

– It means vastly Stryn as the destination, and much of the business world. We want an owner with the ability and willingness to operate the center, says he smp.no.

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Loans for operation

Operating Company, Stryn Summer Ski, is considered to be bankrupt – and therefore must Stryn Summer Ski Properties stand for herding.

To this is applied for loans of a total 390,000.

– We will achieve operational this year. There are already a number of companies that have gone into the support and we have received positive signals from the municipality, says chairman Ola Flo in the property company.

Stryn municipality has been asked 150,000 dollars, something Presidency shall decide in a meeting Wednesday, May 14. Moods of Norway has been asked 100,000 dollars.

Probably there will be talk of a short season with closures already in late June. Glacier host not open, and probably there will be no added worked hard to create the terrain.

lost millions

The three local investors have mobilized close to four million in the property company the recent years, and simultaneously lost money on the operator.

Nevertheless, it has not succeeded to keep the ski floating financially. Revenues in 2013 were halved compared to the previous year.

Also estate company filed an accounting with deficits of about one million in 2013.

In a note which among other things are sent to the mayor of Stryn, lay not Jan Egil Flo Moods of Norway Hide that investors now believe they have lost enough money, and that nearest the need to be regarded as a public duty was to keep slopes open as the conditions and the climate has evolved.

In an email to mp . grounds he no sales that they want to have in an owner with knowledge and time to run the center.

General manager Geir Egil Roksvåg in Nordfjord Meat was not available for comment Friday.

Read also: Sommarskisenteren were saved

Salssum: A half-million dollars

case presentation to the presidency write alderman that a prerequisite for the municipality to provide loans should be aware that there lies a letter of intent for the sale of the property company to a new owner.

In a draft agreement with Idar Turku from Skjåk, the sales sum set to half a million million.

– It looks cheap for a ski

– It’s very cheap, and it’s values ??too far above it in company. But it is not decisive whether the sum becomes a half million or a million. The most important thing is that it is sold at the right person with knowledge of the operation and with a sincere intention to operate the plant ahead, says Ola Flo in the property company.

Flo thinks they should have time to post a letter of intent with Turku in table to the presidency in Stryn processing your case next week.

– But the agreement states that the owners have the right to go out in the market to check the market value, and we will shortly go with a prospect , says Flo.

Read more business news on smp.no

period of 2.5 million

The failure of the operating company summer, the According to general manager, Magne Brekke, be reported to Brønnøysundregistrene. But he says that the preliminary lacks some paper before it are published bankrupt opening.

– Operating company will incur too much debt and bankruptcy, confirms Brekke smp.no.

According to Brekke even last season with a million dollars in the red, and the company has a booking debt of about two and a half million.

– The operation of summer ski center has undergone over the several times – is it possible to operate with surplus?

– It’s a challenge, not least because of the length of the season. But we have struggled with a maintenance backlog, and was simultaneously a maximum unfortunate that the season last year was very short, he points out.

– Are you disappointed that investors did not want to participate anymore?

– No, local patriotism for summer ski is great, but the will to lift the center is a disappointment, however small. We fill up a few camping sites and cabins, providing turnover from stores at a time, with few visits, however, and many see it. But all hope that someone else will take the bills, says Brekke.

He compares slopes with a local football club, as one might not have high hopes of financial gain from.

Read more news from the southern Sunnmøre Nordfjord on smp.no

Confidential memo: Community Revealed – TV2

torsdag d. 22. maj. 2014 kl. 08:58 | af: Thomas Jørgen Seerup, tjse@tv2.dk

I denne uge gennemfører EU-Kommissionen og den amerikanske regering i Arlington, Virginia, endnu en forhandlingsrunde på vejen mod en mulig transatlantisk frihandelsaftale, TTIP.

For at imødekomme kritikken om lukkethed og hemmelige forhandlinger har Kommissionen op til mødet offentliggjort sin forhandlingsposition på fem delområder:

Kemikalier, kosmetik, tekstiler, motorkøretøjer samt medicinske produkter.

Derimod har Kommissionen intet offentliggjort om EU-holdningen på det vigtige område, der handler om energi og råstoffer. Det har til gengæld en ukendt inside-kilde, som til Huffington Post har lækket Kommissionens fortrolige ‘ikke-papir’ om emnet, dateret 20. september 2013.

Connie Hedegaard: Det er nyt for mig
- Dette handelsudspil viser mere af det samme: Mere af de beskidte fossile brændsler, hvor vi burde omstille til ren energi, mere klimaforstyrrende CO2-forurening og flere risici for lokalsamfund på begge sider af Atlanten, siger en oprørt Ilana Solomon, leder af handelsprogrammet hos USA’s største miljøorganisation, Sierra Club.

- Dette forslag er et yderligere vidnesbyrd om, hvorfor handelsforhandlerne holder detaljerne om denne aftale så tæt til kroppen, supplerer Peter Fuchs, leder af den tyske miljøorganisation PowerShift, der ser øget europæisk import af fossil energi fra USA som formålet med denne del af TTIP.

EU’s klimakommissær Connie Hedegaard siger til Information, at det lækkede papir er nyt for hende.

- Det er ikke behandlet i den samlede Kommission. Og det kan se ud til at stride mod en helt central og i Kommissionen højtideligt vedtagede forudsætning for en frihandelsaftale med USA: At den ikke på nogen måde må undergrave EU’s miljøstandarder, understreger klimakommissæren.

Hemmeligt dokument: Vil sikre frihandel
Det fortrolige EU-notat, der er på ni sider og har kommissionens generaldirektorat for handel, DG Trade, som pennefører, er oversendt til USA sidst i september.

Notatet, der er udformet som udkast til TTIP-aftalens energiafsnit, “rummer specifikke elementer, der styrker den fri handel med råstoffer og energi, primært ved at afskaffe handels- og investeringsrestriktioner på varer og tjenesteydelser og ved at skabe mere gennemsigtige markedsrammer, der kan fremme investeringer i råstof- og energisektoren”.

Det lækkede notat understreger behovet for en “vedvarende og gradvis liberalisering” på området.

Kontroversiel metode
USA øger i disse år markant sin produktion af olie og gas i kraft af den såkaldte ‘fracking’-teknik, der har gjort det lønsomt for olieselskaberne at udnytte reserverne af svært tilgængelig skiferolie og -gas.

Metoden er stærkt kontroversiel, fordi den indebærer et stort forbrug af vand, kemikalier og energi samt øget CO2-udledning og risiko for grundvandsforurening.

Takket være “fracking er USA i dag nummer ét producent af olie og gas”, sagde i januar Jack Gerard, formand for olieselskabernes brancheorganisation, American Petroleum Institute.

Derfor presser både olieselskaber og kongresmedlemmer nu på for at få åbnet for den olieeksport, der for at værne om amerikansk forsyningssikkerhed har været stort set forbudt siden oliekrisen i 1973-1974.

Vil være en energi-supermagt
Tilsvarende vil man have ændret på de restriktioner på amerikansk gaseksport, der bl.a. siger, at gas ikke må eksporteres til lande, som USA ikke allerede har en frihandelsaftale med, med mindre det amerikanske energiministerium gennem en offentlig analyse er i stand til at godtgøre, at det er i samfundets interesse.

USA må “finde ud af, hvordan man kan blive verdens energi-supermagt”%u201A sagde Jack Gerard i januar og betonede, at “vi må anskue dette fra en frihandelssynsvinkel og ikke begrænse dette lands mulighed for vækst”.

EU-Kommissionens udspil til amerikanerne lægger sig op ad denne tænkning.

Man skriver om indholdet af en kommende TTIP-aftale, at “eksport af energivarer til den anden part skal automatisk anses for at leve op til enhver betingelse og kontrol, der er forudsat i parternes respektive lovgivning om udstedelse af eksportlicenser”.

Det betyder i praksis, siger Sierra Club og PowerShift i en fælles analyse af EU-forslaget, at betingelserne for olie- og gaseksport fra USA til EU automatisk vil være opfyldt, hvis en TTIP-aftale med dette indhold vedtages.

Aftalen vil øge energieksporten til EU
Aftalen vil derfor “øge den fossile energieksport fra USA til EU og dermed efterforskningen efter fossil energi i USA, øge EU’s afhængighed af fossil energiimport, begrænse regeringernes mulighed for at styre energipolitikken samt bremse udviklingen af lokale programmer for vedvarende energi”.

- Forslaget vil med andre ord true bestræbelserne på at tackle den globale klimakrise på et tidspunkt, hvor beslutsom handling er mere påkrævet end nogensinde, skriver ngo’erne.

Mere miljøbelastende fracking i USA og mere klimabelastende CO2-udledning i Europa er altså i vente med TTIP-aftalen, mener Sierra Club og PowerShift. Og det i en situation, hvor to tredjedele af de fossile energireserver ifølge FN’s klimapanel, IPCC, bør forblive urørt i undergrunden for at begrænse den globale opvarmning.

Hedegaard: EU har en rød linje
Connie Hedegaard siger, at det er en ufravigelig del af EU-Kommissionens position og forhandlingsmandat, at en TTIP-aftale med USA ikke på nogen måde må indebære et tilbageslag for EU’s miljø- og klimapolitik:

- Derfor kan man ikke tænke sig en handelsaftale, der underminerer EU’s miljøstandarder. Det er en ‘rød linje’ der ikke må overskrides. Det vil jeg stå fast på, og det vil andre af mine kolleger givetvis også.”

- Så hvis dette papir f.eks. betyder, at man ikke kan have en særlig EU-regulering om skifergas, brændselskvalitet og lignende, så er det ikke på linje med det, vi har vedtaget. Og så kan man ikke lave en frihandelsaftale med USA med det indhold, siger Connie Hedegaard.

Når det gælder muligheden for at føre en national energipolitik, der satser på vedvarende energi, siger det fortrolige forhandlingsudspil fra DG Trade, at “parterne skal ikke fastholde eller indføre tiltag, der forudsætter krav om lokalt indhold eller andre modkrav, som rammer den anden parts produkter, serviceleverandører, investorer eller investeringer”.

NGO: Det er urimeligt
Tilsvarende må man “ikke stille krav om, at der skal etableres partnerskaber med lokale virksomheder, med mindre sådanne partnerskaber kan vurderes som teknisk nødvendige”.

Også dette finder Sierra Club og PowerShift stærkt urimeligt.

- Regeringers mulighed for at vedtage regler om lokalt indhold, der stiller lokale producenter og leverandører gunstigt, er afgørende for ambitionen om at gøre energiproduktionen mere lokal, fremme den grønne energi og skabe grønne job,” hedder det i ngo’ernes kritiske analyse.

Alt i alt finder miljøorganisationerne, at et energikapitel med dette indhold i TTIP-aftalen vil binde EU og USA til en fortsat satsning på fossil energi.

Allerede inden TTIP-aftalen er EU kommet i en situation, hvor USA’s stærke satsning på skiferolie- og -gas har ført til et overskud af amerikansk kul, der derfor eksporteres til faldende priser til bl.a. Europa, hvor kulforbruget følgelig er steget hvert år siden 2009.

En nylig analyse fra Bank of Americas Merrill Lynch forudser, at den internationale kulpris vil falde yderligere i år og dermed gøre det endnu mere fordelagtigt for bl.a. europæiske energiselskaber at vende tilbage til kul som brændsel frem for naturgas eller investeringer i vedvarende energi.