Shift to renewable energy sources - Kretschmer and Woidke voice disapproval towards coal phase-out debates.
The leaders of Saxony and Brandenburg, Michael Kretschmer and Dietmar Woidke, have lashed out at the ongoing debates regarding the coal phase-out. They had previously negotiated the lignite phase-out by 2038, "since the interests of the regions were significant to us," said Kretschmer during a joint meeting of the state cabinets at the Boxberg power plant. "We are not only astonished but annoyed at how dates have been repeatedly mentioned over the last few years that have no legal foundation."
Kretschmer stated that Germany is a constitutional state and there's a law for phasing out coal by 2038. If this were to change, it would necessitate discussions with the residents of the regions and the political leaders. "This would be the correct course of action to possibly establish a new consensus," he remarked. The G7's decision on Monday "is the opposite, as it undermines trust," said the CDU politician and questioned the foundation for the year 2035 being discussed. "Certainly not according to the current law in the Federal Republic of Germany, and definitely not based on economic possibilities."
Kretschmer cited a recent study from the German Energy Industry Association with a shocking €1,200 billion price tag for the energy transition as it's currently structured. According to experts, this is not financially, technically, or likely achievable, given the cost of energy at that time. Thus, Kretschmer reiterated the proposition to "restart" the energy transition, with the goal of preserving climate protection but also the cost and societal impact of electricity. "We need more expertise and sense."
During their meeting in Italy, the G7's ministers agreed to phase out coal by 2035. "I'm not that interested in the numbers anymore because there's no mathematical or realistic justification for these phase-out years," said Woidke, Brandenburg's Prime Minister. "It's not surprising," he added, referring to a similar decision by the G7 ministers in 2022 to phase out coal by 2035. "By then, gas-powered power plants, which the German Minister of Economics is currently fighting to promote in Brussels, should be shut down and decommissioned."
Woidke criticized the behavior of the governments, stating, "This has now reached a level that's almost comical for a television comedy, but this is about people who want to know what will happen to their prospects and jobs in the coal-producing regions." He labeled the indecision "grossly negligent."
Saxony's Energy and Climate Protection Minister Wolfram Günther, on the other hand, disagreed. "2038 was and is no guarantee for the continued existence of coal," he said in response to the G7 announcement. Claiming otherwise is "economically absurd." The coal businesses themselves are aware of this and are expanding their renewable energy operations. "Every year earlier we stop burning climate-damaging coal is a gain for climate protection."
According to Günther, the rapid growth of renewable energy is financially sound and there's no choice in terms of climate policy. "We must move away from coal as quickly as possible," he emphasized. He praised the G7 leaders' commitment to a binding, latest possible phase-out date, adding that Brandenburg's Green Party called on both heads of government to prepare people for an earlier phase-out. "False promises and disillusioned expectations only strengthen the far right," said the state parliamentary group leader Benjamin Raschke.
Saxony's Economic Minister Martin Dulig (SPD) argued that an end to lignite-fired power generation should not be politically determined. "We have consistently stated that the phase-out will probably take place halfway between 2030 and 2038," he said. A secure energy supply and a justifiable exit must be ensured for people in the coal regions.
Woidke views the change as a unique opportunity for Lusatia. "Both countries have the same philosophy: innovation, technology, and, most notably, infrastructure expansion," he said. There are many similarities with prior achievements in science or new industrial areas that create new employment opportunities. "We believe that the federal government still has an obligation to address the remaining tasks, especially regarding infrastructure. We've tackled each of those matters individually," said Woidke. "We're sending a clear message to everyone living and working in Lusatia that both states stand by their promises." They hope to obtain people's trust for proceeding together "in the best interests of the region and its inhabitants." To achieve this, Woidke emphasized that "the questions we've been asking for years must be finally answered: we want to know about the future of the energy supply as a whole." The present debates are "inflicting significant harm" on the region "because there is no professional basis for these discussions and the shifting timelines."
Partnering with Saxony, we will work hand-in-hand to guarantee a steady and safe energy supply in Germany. Additionally, we're committed to maintaining fair energy prices in the industry, as stated by Woidke during the cabinet press conference livestream.
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Source: www.stern.de
