... The authorities say it is impossible to quantify the level of fraud in public spending on wind energy because investigations are scattered across different countries among the regional and fiscal police. But critics say the available riches and patchy controls are luring a rogue's gallery of corrupt politicians and entrepreneurs trying to literally create money out of thin air. <...> The European Wind Energy Association -- which represents 600 manufacturers and members in 60 countries, including some outside of Europe, and which attracted more than €10.9 billion last year in investments -- argues that problems with corruption are rare and that industry regulation is not needed."We have fraud legislation in all countries, and this is a matter for the national police," said Christian Kjaer, chief executive of the trade group. But critics like John Etherington, a former professor of ecology at the University of Wales and author of "The Wind Farm Scam," contends that because the industry is so dependent on subsidies, it is highly vulnerable to scams. Mr. Etherington said that he is "not sure that the industry is regulated at all -- let alone well regulated." ...
... The authorities say it is impossible to quantify the level of fraud in public spending on wind energy because investigations are scattered across different countries among the regional and fiscal police. But critics say the available riches and patchy controls are luring a rogue's gallery of corrupt politicians and entrepreneurs trying to literally create money out of thin air.
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The European Wind Energy Association -- which represents 600 manufacturers and members in 60 countries, including some outside of Europe, and which attracted more than €10.9 billion last year in investments -- argues that problems with corruption are rare and that industry regulation is not needed.
"We have fraud legislation in all countries, and this is a matter for the national police," said Christian Kjaer, chief executive of the trade group.
But critics like John Etherington, a former professor of ecology at the University of Wales and author of "The Wind Farm Scam," contends that because the industry is so dependent on subsidies, it is highly vulnerable to scams. Mr. Etherington said that he is "not sure that the industry is regulated at all -- let alone well regulated." ...
