In a move that’s sure to restore a smidgen of Greta Thunberg’s childhood, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has finally hammered out a deal for Germany’s stalled exit from coal-fired power generation, after state leaders agreed to shut down the industry by 2038.
We would note that this falls outside the 12-year window of doom predicted by US climate expert Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, but better late than never when environmental apocalypse is on the line.
Germany’s plan includes 40 billion euros ($44.6 billion) in compensation for impacted regions, according to Bloomberg. The country’s largest coal-fired power producer, RWE AG, will receive 2.6 billion euros according to an insider – sending the stock up 1.7% in mid-morning trade on Thursday. In eastern Germany, utility Lignite operators will receive 1.75 billion euros according to German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz.
Merkel has been in a tight spot on the issue, facing pressure from environmentalists and miners alike. Climate tops voter concerns, and Germany will already miss its 2020 targets under the Paris Agreement. On the other hand, the poorer states in the former Communist East, where the bulk of the mines are, fear a growing gap to the West. Her predicament feeds into a broader political challenge, with the Greens party and the far-right Alternative for Germany gaining support on both sides of the political spectrum to squeeze Germany’s traditional mainstream parties, including her Christian Democrats. The AfD has been particularly strong in the eastern mining states.
Top GOP senator reveals what Dem colleagues are fretting about behind closed doors
JD Vance to invoke Charlie Kirk, family ‘birthright’ in fiery midterm keynote speech thrashing Dems
Conservatives Accuse Netflix of ‘Subtly Mocking Charlie Kirk’s Assassination,’ Call for Mass Cancellation
Patriots Announcers in Disbelief as QB Throws Away Season Opener on Final Play: ‘What Was He Thinking?’
Judge questions possible attorney conflict in DC pipe bomber case
Prosecutor Joseph diGenova resigns from DOJ role investigating Trump-Russia probes
Fatwas, holy wars and socialism: Inside the Islamic conference where El-Sayed drew a hero’s welcome
ICE arrests Peruvian national accused of illegally voting in 2024 election as DHS cites similar cases
TPUSA Official Explains How ‘Ghouls’ Celebrating Anniversary of Charlie Kirk’s Death Are Actually Helping His Cause
Deep Dive: One Year On, ‘A Million Charlie Kirks’ Have Not Yet Emerged, But Disunity and Insanity Have
James Talarico needles Ken Paxton amid GOP midterm convention
Family of 9/11 hero to retrace his steps in final Tunnel to Towers stop
Illegal convicted of assaulting high school girls thought he was free — then DHS dropped the hammer
How to make more Charlie Kirks: Inside TPUSA’s gap-year alternative to the ‘college scam’
Watch: Spontaneous Tribute to Charlie Kirk Erupts as Trump Honors Erika at RNC Midterm Convention“It was a long night — it lasted until 2 a.m. — but we were able to achieve a sensible agreement,” Armin Laschet, premier of the state of North-Rhine Westphalia, said in an interview with Deutschlandfunk radio. “The time frame that we’ve agreed on is ambitious, but realistic.” –Bloomberg (via Yahoo!)
According to Laschet, approximately 3,000 jobs will be lost to the closures, which will occur more quickly in west German states.
The biggest resistance to the plan comes from states in the former communist east, which heavily relies on coal and has a lower income per capita than in the west.
Under Thursday’s agreement, LEAG’s Jaenschwalde power plant will convert into a gas-fired unit to use some of that sweet, sweet, Russian gas thanks to Nordstream 2. The government will also pay to retrain workers affected by plant closures – possibly in coding.
Story cited here.
