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.
Power plants as an anchor for ramping up the hydrogen economy
Panter insists, however, that the locations should be evenly distributed. Existing infrastructure, available space, technical expertise and the special transformation burdens of the eastern German coal regions must be taken into account. As customers, the power plants are also important anchors with regard to the development of a sustainable hydrogen economy.
"When the federal government talks about security of supply, Lusatia must also be part of the solution - not just Bavaria or Baden-Württemberg," emphasized Panter. "We are not calling for a location advantage, but for fair distribution and planning security."
Federal Minister Reiche will visit Lusatia on Monday as part of her summer tour. A visit to the Schwarze Pumpe lignite-fired power plant in southern Brandenburg is then on the agenda.
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