Dutch cities using more coal power as price plummets: Greenpeace

A massive 167 Dutch municipalities are still using coal power for their own electricity use, such as for powering street lighting, traffic lights and municipal buildings, according to a study done by SOMO on behalf of Greenpeace Netherlands. According to the study, 141 Dutch municipalities are buying power from green energy suppliers. But with the other 167 municipalities it is only "pretense", Greenpeace writes. They "greenwash" their coal electricity with green certificates of varying quality - often involving "dirt chap and worthless certificates of Norwegian hydropower centrals or Icelandic geothermal power", according to the environmental organization. "The results of this study are all the more interesting when you consider that local authorities agreed with each other to only buy sustainably from 2015", Jorien Blank, Greenpeace campaign manager for climate and energy, said. "In addition, the Netherlands recently promised in Paris to do everything to keep temperature increase below 1.5 degrees. The government in particular can be expected to set a good example. 141 municipalities show it is possible, the laggards have no excuse for their lax procurement." Greenpeace calls on municipalities to truly opt for green power - choose suppliers with proper green certificates.