Future of coal one among the coalition talks' most delicate topics

The future of coal-fired power generation is going to be one of the coalition talks’ most delicate matters, Michael Bauchmüller says in an article for Süddeutsche Zeitung. “All other energy policy issues pale in comparison to the coal question,” he writes. Coal power plants are responsible for around a third of German greenhouse gas emissions, so an accelerated phase-out would allow Chancellor Angela Merkel to make good on her promise to reach the country's 2020 climate target. The Free Democrats (FDP) oppose “banning-policies” and call for market-based incentives instead.

Read the article in German here.

For background on the coalition talks read the CLEW factsheets Coalition watch – The making of a new German government and The long road to a new government coalition in Germany and on coal check out When will Germany finally ditch coal?