L 10/54 Official Journal of the European Union 16.1.2004 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 17 September 2003 on the exemption from the Climate Change Levy which the United Kingdom is planning to imple- ment in respect of coalmine methane (notified under document number C(2003) 3242) (Only the English text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2004/50/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Com- munity, and in particular the first subparagraph of Article 88(2) thereof, Having regard to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, and in particular Article 62(1)(a) thereof, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 659/1999 of 22 March 1999 laying down detailed rules for the application of Article 93 of the EC Treaty ('), and in particular Article 7 thereof, Having called on interested parties to submit their comments pursuant to those provisions (¥ and having regard to their comments, Whereas: I. PROCEDURE (1) By letter dated 5 December 2002, the United Kingdom notified the Commission of its intention to grant an exemption from the Climate Change Levy (CCL) charged to suppliers in respect of electricity produced from coal- mine methane (CM) from abandoned coalmines. (2) By letter dated 5 February 2003, the Commission informed the United Kingdom that it had decided to initiate the procedure laid down in Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty in respect of the proposed exemption. (3)  The Commission decision to initiate the procedure was published in the Official Journal of the European Union (%). The Commission called on interested parties to submit their comments. () OJ L 83, 27.3.1999, p. 1. () O] C 69, 22.3.2003, p. 9. () See footnote 2. (4) The Commission has received comments from interested parties. It has forwarded them to the United Kingdom, which was given the opportunity to react. In the light of the comments from interested parties, the Commission requested additional information by letter dated 26 May 2003. A meeting with the United Kingdom authorities was held on 11 June 2003. The United Kingdom's comments on the comments of interested parties and the information requested by the Commission were received by letter dated 10 July 2003. II. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE AID The scheme will exempt from the Climate Change Levy (CCL) supplies of electricity generated from coalmine methane (CM) from abandoned coalmines. The basic legislation for the CCL is contained in Sche- dule 6 to the Finance Act 2000. Section 126 of the Finance Act 2002 amends Schedule 6 to the Finance Act 2000 by inserting a new subparagraph (4A) after sub- paragraph (4) of paragraph 19 of that Schedule. The scheme will take effect from a day to be appointed by Treasury Order. The relevant secondary legislation (Regulations 46 to 51 of the CCL (General) Regulations 2001 — SI 2001/838) will include CM within their scope. CM is a potent greenhouse gas, currently venting into the atmosphere. At present, there are four CM extraction sites being used for electricity generation with a total generating capacity of 35MW.