Gov’t and opposition clash over Poland’s energy future

She added that she does not have building nuclear energy sites “simmering in the back of her mind”,

Responding to this statement, Beata Szydło, shadow Prime Minister of the opposition Law and Justice Party (PiS) said “there is no future for Polish coal without renewable energy sources”, and suggested further funding for research, development and testing of new technologies in the energy market.

“Energy security is our number one priority,” and “contrary to my political opponents, I do not have plans to build atomic energy sites simmering in the back of my mind,” the head of government said on a press conference on Sunday.

Despite that, the Treasury confirmed that Poland is planning to build a 3,000 MW nuclear power plant to produce about eight percent of the country’s energy ready to use in 2025. Treasury Minister Andrzej Czerwiński defended Kopacz saying that she meant “we will not succumb to [EU] pressure to build nuclear energy sites.”

The European Parliament's goals for 2020, include each member state having at least 20 percent lower greenhouse gas emissions from 1990, 20 percent of their energy from renewable resources, and 20 percent increased energy efficiency. (ua/ss/rg/rk)