Denmark aims to ban fossil-fuel burning by 2050

New York Times : Of all the countries in the world, Denmark is pursuing the most ambitious plan regarding climate change. It is working to end the burning of fossil fuels by 2050, not only for electricity production but for motor vehicles as well. So far the country is producing 40% of its power from renewable sources and is pushing for 50% by 2020. However, there are two main obstacles to achieving its goals. Increased use of solar, wind, and other renewables can drive conventional plants out of business, but they are needed to provide backup power when the Sun doesn’t shine and the wind doesn’t blow. Also, electric car technology is not yet advanced enough or inexpensive enough to supplant gas-powered cars. To try to smooth the transition to renewable electricity generation, Denmark has been installing smart meters and smart appliances that can decide when to turn on and off to try to match consumption with generation.