An e-mailer from across the pond notes that the Royal Swedish Engineering Science Academy has come out with a new report called “The Five Choices.”

It seems they’ve become familiar with the wind-power experience of their neighbors to the south, so we won’t be hearing President Obama saying, “Let’s look at what’s being concluded in countries like Sweden . . . “

From the English summary on page 8:

Direction 2. Invest in measures that are the most beneficial for the climate
Increasing the percentage of energy we get from renewable sources does not automatically lower greenhouse gas emissions. We should increase the percentage of renewable energy, but a forced expansion would be unreasonably expensive. If implemented with today’s support systems, the renewable energy objective and today’s plans for expanding wind power up to 30 TWh would be costly for Sweden’s electricity consumers unless alternative financing is found. Expanding wind power requires investment in the power grid, expanding reserve power (hydropower) and raising subsidies.
Expanding wind power too much could lead to surplus electricity and wind power exporting — paid for by Sweden’s electricity consumers. There are more cost-effective ways of reducing greenhouse gases.
The renewable energy goal should steer us towards reducing the use of fossil fuels — not a one-sided investment in a single climate-friendly alternative.