Coal Commission – Federal States of emergency assistance for exit strategy from Coal, The four most coal-exit-affected countries will receive 260 million euros in funding. With the immediate programme of structural change should be supported. © Photo: Volker Hartmann/
the Federal Finance Minister, Olaf Scholz (SPD) and from the coal exit the affected Federal States have agreed on a programme for structural change in the regions. The Deutsche Presse-Agentur reported, citing government circles. Therefore, the program had a volume of 260 million euros, of which the Federal carry of 240 million euros. This sum is also in the basic Parameters for the Federal budget.
With the help of the support programme a number of projects to be supported, including transport projects in North Rhine-Westphalia, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Brandenburg. So it looks such as new railway lines and other measures to improve the transport infrastructure. In addition, innovations and the expansion of broadband in the regions. In Magdeburg, the Federal state government of Saxony-Anhalt, the first projects to be implemented to support the Coal phase-out.
The coal Commission had suggested that Germany get out by the end of 2038 step out of the climate-damaging coal. This Thursday, the competent state to advise the secretaries of the countries with the Federal government on the preparation of the planned law on the implementation of the structural assistance in accordance with the exit.
lignite countries defend themselves against financial participation in the coal exit
The heads of government of the Eastern German brown coal countries had fought most recently in a letter to German Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) opposed to the planned billion projects for the Coal phase-co-Finance. The Minister-President of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Brandenburg, and warned that the areas were perhaps as bearers of the brunt of it. Nevertheless, references to the Federal government in talks on options, which provided for a financial contribution from the countries.
At the same time, Brandenburg’s Prime Minister Dietmar rejected Woidke, the demand for a faster phase-out of brown coal. “From my point of view it is not feasible to stop the brown coal-fired power generation earlier than the agreed compromise is the year 2038,” said Woidke, the German press Agency. “We go out in a step manner from the coal, but the coal-based electricity is used in the German energy mix.”
Woidke said in addition, for a quick implementation of the so-called structure-strengthening of law: “I am counting on the fact that the so-called structure-strengthening law for the coal regions until the end of April.” The regions are in need of security. “Ultimately, it is the great task to connect for the first time, the increase of the economic power with the reduction of climate gases.” In Brandenburg, there are already some very positive signals from the company. So, BASF is going to invest Schwarzheide in new jobs. Moreover, the addition of an Airbus subsidiary in Cottbus.
In Germany, about a third of the electricity is sourced from coal-fired power plants. By 2022, Germany is increasing the use of nuclear energy. Also, coal-fired power plants will be gradually removed from the network, however, the climate protection goals of a faster exit is necessary.
