German Lawmakers Sign Off on Phase-Out of Coal
The post German Lawmakers Sign Off on Phase-Out of Coal appeared first on POWER Magazine.
Germany’s plan to end coal-fired power generation in the country is now official, as both houses of the German parliament approved the plan to shut down the last coal units by 2038.
Lawmakers signed off on the deal July 3. Environmental groups have supported the measure, though some say it does not go far enough to protect the environment and more quickly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Supporters of a free market for German energy say it’s not necessary, and is a waste of taxpayer money, including its compensation plan for coal companies.
A major part of the strategy approved Friday is its promise to pour about €40 billion ($ 45 billion) into regions impacted by the closure of coal plants and coal mines to prop up local economies and retrain workers.
The plan is part of Germany’s “Energiewende,” the country’s effort to reduce reliance on thermal power generation and generate all the nation’s power from renewable resources.…