Germany's environment minister announced a plan last week to implement a cap on wind and biomass energy generation support, similar to limitations imposed on the photovoltaic sector. While the minister raised the nation's renewables target to 40 percent of total power by 2020, he said that he planned on implementing regulations similar to the 52,000 megawatt cap on solar support; once that limit is reached by wind and biomass, there will be no price guarantees. Germany's renewables boom has been due in part to the fact that green power fed into the system has been paid for at above-market rates. Fears about a potential price distortion contributed to government regulations imposed earlier this year. Calling the switch to renewable energy "the biggest economic project of the post-World War II era," the minister stressed the need for renewables to compete at market prices as quickly as possible. For the full story, see http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-11/germany-seeks-to-increase-renewable-target-to-40-by-2020.html and http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/10/11/us-germany-energy-idUKBRE89A0V720121011. Earlier: http://elr.info/international/international-update/german-renewable-energy-share-hits-20-percent, http://elr.info/international/international-update/germany-slow-cuts-wind-subsidies.