Plans by the federal government to give preference to southern Germany in the construction of new gas-fired power plants have been met with harsh criticism in Saxony. A southern bonus would systematically disadvantage eastern German power plant locations, said Saxony's Minister of Economic Affairs Dirk Panter (SPD). This would jeopardize the goal of a fair structural change in the coal regions, especially in Lusatia. Panter demanded a fair and balanced energy policy from the federal government.
The coalition agreement between the CDU, CSU and SPD envisages the construction of up to 20 gigawatts of gas-fired power plant capacity by 2030. The power plants are intended to step in when electricity demand cannot be covered by renewable energies - for example during so-called dark doldrums when there is no sunshine and no wind. State subsidies are planned. According to earlier statements by Federal Minister of Economics Katherina Reiche (CDU), the focus will be on southern Germany.
