Alternative energy sources in Europe may get a boost as protests against high oil prices spread across the continent. A summit this week in Munich, Germany, pushing hydrogen as an eco-friendly power source for the future, is attracting more attention than expected because it is set against the backdrop of anger over soaring gasoline prices. Many summit attendees are touting hydrogen-powered fuel cells, though they acknowledge there are many hurdles to be overcome before hydrogen can be cheaply and safely distributed on a wide scale. Meanwhile, ScottishPower in the UK announced yesterday that it plans to expand its wind farming operations so it can produce 10 percent of its power from renewable sources by 2010. Even oil giants like Royal Dutch/Shell and BP Amoco are talking up their investments in renewable energy sources.
