BERLIN (dpa-AFX) – Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner has questioned the timing of the coal phase-out specified in the coalition agreement. “As long as it is not clear that energy is available and affordable, we should end the dreams of phasing out coal-fired electricity in 2030,” said the FDP politician to the “Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger”.
The traffic light parties SPD, Greens and FDP had agreed in their coalition agreement to “ideally” bring forward the coal phase-out from 2038 to 2030.
“This date has no effect on the climate anyway, as the CO2 emissions saved in Germany are allowed to be generated additionally in Poland, for example, due to European rules,” said the FDP minister.
The German Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND), on the other hand, considers 2030 as an exit year to be indispensable in order to achieve the climate goals. “The CO2 certificates released in Germany as a result must be deleted so that the emissions do not occur elsewhere in Europe. False information does not become correct just because it is persistently repeated,” said BUND chairman Olaf Bandt on Wednesday. The coal phase-out in 2030 is well underway. “Coal-fired power will soon no longer be needed due to the enormous market dynamics of renewable energies.”
Lindner wants to rely on natural gas from Germany. “Domestic gas production must be intensified,” he demanded. In addition, the expansion of renewable energies must be made possible more quickly. When asked whether Germany needs new gas power plants as a reserve in the energy mix, the FDP politician said: “That’s what it will come down to, but the question is how this can be done so efficiently in a market economy that electricity prices don’t rise any further.”/kli/DP /men