European Lawmakers Reach Deal to Speed Up Renewable Energy Output

The European Union (EU) has reached a tentative agreement to accelerate the rollout of renewable energy and cut the bloc’s dependence on fossil fuels. 

The deal between the European Parliament and the European Council would boost renewable energy’s share of the EU’s energy consumption to 42.5% by 2030, up from the current binding target of 32%. That would nearly double the existing share of renewable energy, but negotiators also agreed that the bloc would aim to reach 45% renewables by 2030. 

The agreement must be formally adopted by both of the EU bodies before it can take effect. The revised renewable energy directive is part of a package of proposals aimed at meeting the bloc’s net-zero emissions target by 2050, a strategy it refers to as the European Green Deal. It...