EU negotiators have informally agreed on a binding 32% EU renewable energy target for 2030, EU climate action and energy commissioner Miguel Arias Canete tweeted Thursday. This effectively ends 20 months of debate on this part of the EU’s draft clean energy package legislation. The European Commission had proposed “at least 27%” for renewable energy’s share of EU final energy demand in its November 2016 proposal to update the EU’s renewables directive. The 28 EU national governments would be free to decide their own renewable shares, as long as they cumulatively meet the overall EU target. A higher renewables target will likely constrain natural gas demand and lower greenhouse gas emissions, which could dampen EU carbon prices in the EU Emissions Trading System. The European Parliament originally wanted a 35% binding renewables target, while the EU Council, representing national governments, had originally backed the “at least 27%” target. Negotiators […]