Energy Europe

A graceful arc of alabaster windmills rises out of the midnight-blue waters of the Oresund strait, visual testimony to Danes' commitment to clean energy and the health of the planet. Until recently, wind parks were also sources of bitter resentment among those who saw the stark white poles, whining turbines and jerky rotors as a blight on their bucolic landscape. But beauty is in the eye of not only the beholder but also the shareholder.

In the U.S. - land of the gas-guzzler SUV and 24/7 air conditioning - energy efficiency isn't known as a strong suit. The country's power management efforts are so poor that a new report ranks it near the bottom of the pack of major economies. On a list of a dozen countries, which together account for 63% of global energy consumption, the U.S.' efficiency efforts are ranked in lowly ninth place. With a score of 47 out of 100, the U.S. outpaces only Brazil, Canada and Russia, according to the report from the nonprofit American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, known as ACEEE.

In the U.S. - land of the gas-guzzler SUV and 24/7 air conditioning - energy efficiency isn't known as a strong suit. The country's power management efforts are so poor that a new report ranks it near the bottom of the pack of major economies. On a list of a dozen countries, which together account for 63% of global energy consumption, the U.S.' efficiency efforts are ranked in lowly ninth place. With a score of 47 out of 100, the U.S. outpaces only Brazil, Canada and Russia, according to the report from the nonprofit American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, known as ACEEE.

A graceful arc of alabaster windmills rises out of the midnight-blue waters of the Oresund strait, visual testimony to Danes' commitment to clean energy and the health of the planet. Until recently, wind parks were also sources of bitter resentment among those who saw the stark white poles, whining turbines and jerky rotors as a blight on their bucolic landscape. But beauty is in the eye of not only the beholder but also the shareholder.

* Michael A. Cornelius has been appointed vice president for law at Western Digital Corp. He succeeds Robert L. Erickson, who has retired after 10 years as chief legal officer. Before joining the Irvine computer products company, Cornelius spent 19 years with Nissan Motor Co. in senior legal and public affairs positions.

When this quiet city in southern Sweden decided in 1996 to wean itself off fossil fuels, most people doubted the ambitious goal would have any effect beyond the town limits. A few melting glaciers later, Vaxjo is attracting a green pilgrimage of politicians, scientists and business leaders from as far afield as the U.S. and North Korea seeking inspiration from a city program that has enabled it to cut carbon dioxide emissions 30% since 1993.

Demand for energy rose 4.3% last year in the non-Communist industrialized world, trailing a 4.9% economic expansion, the International Energy Agency reported Tuesday. The agency said preliminary forecasts point to less than 3% growth in energy use in 1985. In previous economic recoveries, the growth in energy use has tended to surpass economic activity, said J. Wallace Hopkins, deputy executive director of the agency.

PRESIDENT BUSH'S TRIP TO EUROPE is being welcomed like an infectious disease. Bush was unpopular in Europe from day one of his presidency, but a charm offensive launched last year -- and a more conciliatory approach toward European concerns -- was meant to change that, or at least nudge the approval rating up a notch. Instead, recent polls show he is more unpopular than ever across the Atlantic.

The political and environmental shockwaves of the Japanese earthquake reached Europe on Monday as Germany and Switzerland moved to curb their nuclear energy programs, at least temporarily. The Swiss government imposed an immediate freeze on plans to build and replace nuclear power plants until inspectors review safety standards in light of developments in Japan, where last Friday's monster earthquake and ensuing tsunami have put nuclear power stations at risk. Switzerland relies on five reactors for 40% of its energy supply.

Even as the European Union reached out to the East this week, sending its foreign affairs chief touring through Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan for a string of meetings marked with smiling photos and words of goodwill, experts say its influence there remains muddled. The EU set forth a strategy for Central Asia five years ago that covers practical matters, such as halting heroin smuggling and finding new, diversified sources of energy for Europe, to more idealistic goals, such as improving human rights and fostering democracy.

Fuel delivery to four European countries fell below normal Saturday as Russia's state gas monopoly withheld natural gas from neighboring Ukraine for the third consecutive day. Ukraine warned that its gas pipeline system could experience "serious disruptions" if a worsening price dispute isn't settled in 10 to 15 days, threatening shortfalls across Europe in the heart of winter.

Libya's surprise pledge to abandon major weapons programs could give a big boost to Los Angeles-based Occidental Petroleum Corp., which was forced to abandon lucrative oil fields in the North African nation when U.S. sanctions took effect 17 years ago. Libyan leader Col. Moammar Kadafi announced Dec. 19 that his country would give up its pursuit of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and allow international inspectors to dismantle its facilities.