Schwerin (dpa/mv) - According to Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig (SPD), the energy crisis has far greater economic effects than the corona pandemic and can only be overcome through joint efforts. "Together we can overcome the energy crisis for the benefit of our country and the people in our country," said Schwesig in a government statement in the state parliament in Schwerin on Wednesday.
In order to secure the energy supply, it is necessary to bring more energy into the country and to produce more green electricity. In addition, it will not go without further energy savings, in which the country sets a good example and wants to heat offices to just 19 grand. A gas shortage in winter must be prevented. The aim remains to give citizens and companies planning security and to create relief with state aid.
Schwesig referred to the results of the state energy summit in mid-August. In addition to the billions in aid from the federal government, the state is providing 30 million euros as a hardship fund for consumers and companies. The head of government renewed her demands to the federal government for the introduction of an energy price cap and the skimming off of excessive crisis profits from corporations.
Criticism of the state and federal government's course came from the opposition. AfD faction leader Nikolaus Kramer described the expansion of wind and solar power production as a mistake and called for coal and nuclear power to continue to be used. He also advocated the commissioning of the Russian-German Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. "We have to turn on the taps. We need the gas," said Kramer. In front of the state parliament, around 20 demonstrators spoke out in favor of the pipeline being released by Germany in the morning. CDU parliamentary group leader Franz-Robert Liskow called on Schwesig to campaign for noticeable cost containment in energy prices at the forthcoming federal-state summit.
