The European Union has reinforced individual nation's attitudes with tight emissions standards, policy positions advocating aggressive responses to climate change, and prohibitions on subsidies for fossil fuels. In Japan, the main impetus for renewable energy development has the pursuit of energy independence, though climate change and the Kyoto Protocol has been added to the Japanese government's list of concerns. Japan has pursued nuclear energy even more vigorously than renewables to meet these needs. The subsidy program lasted 10 years before its repeal. The latest incentives, albeit indirect, involve energy taxes on fossil fuels for their air emissions.
Wind energy receives rebates in the taxation scheme.
But the government was not alone in its efforts. The nation's wind guilds, or owners' co-operatives, helped to make wind turbines more palatable to communities and heightened confidence in the technology. Accordingly, insurance against the failure of the technology and the manufacturer became more affordable. Germany Germany has relied principally on a combination of cheap loans and subsidies coupled with higher fixed payments for electricity produced by renewables. For wind energy, the German government provides subsidies based on electricity output or capital costs.