German coal regions to be allocated €40 billion as part of coal phase-out plan

(EurActiv, 29 Aug 2019) Germany’s federal cabinet has presented a bill to allocate €40 billion to some federal states so they can prepare for structural changes related to phasing out coal. But it remains unclear when power plants will actually be shut down. EURACTIV Germany reports.

Exactly 214 days after the so-called coal commission presented its recommendations to the federal government, the cabinet agreed on Wednesday (28 August) on the Structural Reinforcement Bill.

“In doing so, we are keeping our promise,” Economy Minister Peter Altmaier told journalists.

The objective of the law is to accompany upcoming structural changes from the outset.

Up to €40 billion euros, €26 billion of which is dedicated to infrastructural measures, will flow into the federal states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Brandenburg, Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt up to 2038. By then, Germany’s last coal-fired power plant is expected to be taken off grid.

For it to come into force this year, the bill needs to be adopted by the German Bundestag and the Bundesrat. These financial commitments should send a positive signal to Saxony and Brandenburg, where elections will be held on Sunday.

According to an Infratest-survey, the far-right AfD could reach 24% in Saxony and 22% in Brandenburg.

External link

EurActiv, 29 Aug 2019: German coal regions to be allocated €40 billion as part of coal phase-out plan