In the media: EEG in English, energy efficiency and coal
Der Spiegel
“Conflict between SPD ministers Gabriel and Hendricks puts climate action plan at risk”
Fellow Social Democrats Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel and Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks are wrangling over climate protection, weekly magazine Der Spiegel reports, saying Hendricks wants to close down coal-fired power stations and Gabriel focuses on protecting jobs. The magazine says there is a general consensus that Germany needs to take 10 gigawatts – or 15 to 20 coal power stations – offline to reach its target of 40 per cent reduction on 1990 levels by 2020. Hendricks is committed to the 2020 target while Gabriel is in “no hurry”, the magazine says.
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
"500 company networks to save energy"
In order to meet climate targets and make Germany more energy efficient, the German Ministry for Energy and Economic Affairs will introduce a company-network scheme whereby groups of businesses will make pledges to reduce electricity consumption and improve energy efficiency. Andreas Mihm at the FAZ reports that this is one of several measures the German government will take a decision over in early December. Industry associations welcomed the idea of setting their own targets but fear the burden of an increased bureaucracy. The ministry aims to establish 500 energy efficiency networks of 8 to 15 companies.
dpa
Latest Renewable Energy Law to be published in English
Germany's Renewable Energy Act (Erneurebare Energien Gesetz, EEG) is currently being translated into English, the news agency dpa reports. The latest reform of the bill, regulating the development of green electricity sources, came into effect in August 2014. The EEG is considered an important export as some 140 countries worldwide have pledged green energy development targets that could potentially use the German law as a model.
The story was also reported by Handelsblatt here.
Frankfurter Rundschau
“Symbols of the coal exit; Crosses and lanterns against the politics of Sigmar Gabriel”
Public protests in more than thirty German cities on Saturday called for coal power to be phased out in the country, the Frankfurter Rundschau reports. Protestors who believe Germany needs to abandon coal to reach its 2020 climate targets demonstrated with lantern-lit parades and candles arranged in crosses. "The cross is an ancient symbol of resistance from Wendland," Jörn Burger, spokesperson for Greenpeace’s Frankfurt group told the paper. “Before it was a symbol against nuclear waste, today it has become a symbol for the exit of the coal industry.” Other protestors told the Frankfurter Rundschau that Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel seemed to have forgotten commitments he made in his previous role as environment minister.
