Germany's parliamentary mediation committee approved allowing carbon capture and storage on a test basis last week after a compromise that reduces the scope of the original proposal. Though the technology is costly, the method is seen by some as vital to help power plants meet legally binding climate targets. Many citizen groups have opposed the proposal over fears that carbon dioxide emissions, which can be fatal in high concentrations, may leak and rise to the surface. A draft law was approved by one of Germany's legislative houses last year, but rejected by the other due to safety concerns. A Swedish utility scrapped plans last year for a pilot project, citing "insufficient will in German federal politics" to make a carbon capture demonstration project possible. However, the mediation committee approved a compromise plan that would allow about 1.6 million tons of emissions to be captured and stored. In addition, states will have greater ability to reject projects. For the full story, see http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/27/us-germany-energy-co-idUSBRE85Q1JL20120627.