Saxony's Economics Minister Dirk Panter (SPD) has spoken out in favor of subjecting the energy transition to a "non-ideological reality check". "We are currently being crushed in an energy culture war in Saxony," said the SPD politician in an interview with the "Leipziger Volkszeitung" and the "Sächsische Zeitung".
Some people are calling for more speed, while others think the energy transition is complete nonsense, according to Panter. "I think both are wrong. I am firmly convinced that the expansion of renewable energies is the right thing to do. But can it be 100 percent immediately? I don't think our economy can afford that at the moment." What is needed is a good mix of renewable energies and gas-fired power plants as a buffer for peak loads or dark doldrums.
"In general, we still produce too little electricity from renewables in Saxony and have significantly fewer surpluses than other states in the east," said the minister. "We are an absolute developing country, especially when it comes to wind power. In the solar sector, on the other hand, we have come a long way."
