Commission to allow EU biofuels to stay

BRUSSELS , Oct. 29 (UPI) -- The European Commission is working on a new directive to allow certain biofuels produced in Europe to meet greenhouse gas emission rules.

The EU Observer said the commission had initially suggested biofuels had to achieve a 35 percent savings in greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional fossil fuels but the number was later tightened to 45 percent savings now and 60 percent savings by 2015.

The tighter standards would have eliminated the use of European biofuels such as sugar beet ethanol. Updated standards submitted by the commission, however, suggest sugar beet ethanol produces a savings of 52 percent, the newspaper said.