Britain has not yet determined its target for renewable energy sources like wind and sun by 2020, causing concern among industry players. European Union leaders agreed to a mandatory target of one-fifth of energy from renewables by 2020, but did not allocate specific targets to each member state. Tough discussions are expected before a decision in January, and the renewable energy industry in Britain is worried that the country's target will be too low. The UK's Renewable Energy Association spokesperson, Leonie Greene, believes there is a negative attitude towards renewables in the country. Renewable energy is better for the environment but more expensive than traditional fossil fuels, requiring support for research, development, and installation to encourage investment and reduce costs. Greene referred to EU data indicating that in 2005, Britain obtained 1.8 percent of its energy from renewable sources, while the EU-27 average was 6.7 percent. Despite committing to the EU's 20 percent target, the UK government stated they have not changed their position and are currently determining how to achieve this goal. The UK announced in May that existing policies would allow them to reach 5 percent renewable energy by 2020, considering the EU target as ambitious. Leaked documents suggest that doubling this share to 10 percent by 2020 could cost up to 4.4 billion pounds annually. The documents indicated that Britain desired a flexible approach to achieve targets, such as using a mechanism similar to carbon offsetting. This involves paying someone else to install renewable energy on your behalf. EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs expressed support for a trading approach where wealthier EU countries would invest in renewable energy in newer, mainly ex-communist bloc members. This proposal received a mixed reception from renewable energy companies.