Several of the largest energy companies in Europe announced that they would support greater greenhouse gas emission cuts on Friday. The firms included Britain's Scottish & Southern Energy, Denmark's Dong Energy, and Dutch firm Eneco, and they issued a statement in advance of EU climate commissioner Connie Hedegaard's strategy paper expected on Tuesday. The current carbon dioxide target is 20 percent below 1990 levels, but the firms suggested the EU should enact a 25 percent cut target. Hedegaard's paper is expected to highlight ways nations can meet existing goals, likely including measures that could achieve a 25 percent cut. The Carbon Trust and Siemens recently provided a combined 550 million pounds to help United Kingdom businesses invest in energy efficiency technology, focusing on such technology as efficient lighting and biomass heating. Italy removed a cap on solar power incentives last week, issuing new rules for renewable energy. The nation already has some of the most generous incentives for production, but the measure aims to offset financial speculation, which weighs on Italian power bills. Hedegaard warned Spain last week that its planned solar and wind tariff cuts may jeopardize clean energy investments in Europe. For the full story, see http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/03/us-eu-energy-climate-idUSTRE72286920110303. For the UK's For the story on Italy's incentives, see http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/03/us-italy-solar-incentives-idUSTRE7222GT20110303. For Spain's cuts, see http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-04/hedegaard-says-spain-risks-clean-power-investments-across-european-union.html.