Photovoltaics on every state building, funding programs to boost electromobility - for the Greens, too little is happening in Saxony-Anhalt when it comes to expanding renewable energies.
Magdeburg (dpa/sa) - The opposition Greens accuse the state government of making too slow progress in expanding renewable energies. "It's not enough if the Minister of the Environment only makes nice headlines. We need action. We have to push ahead with repowering, invest in energy storage and every state building should have a photovoltaic system," said Green Party leader Cornelia Lüddemann of the German Press Agency. "We no longer have time to wait. We no longer have time to commission studies and also no time for a climate congress lasting a year and a half. We have to implement the things that are clear."
Saxony-Anhalt's Energy and Environment Minister Armin Willingmann (SPD) recently started a climate congress. He sees the federal government as more responsible for implementing the climate goals. "If we want to generate around 80 percent of our electricity from renewable energies by 2030, the federal government not only has to expand the legal framework to give priority to renewables, but also to give citizens and companies even more support," says Willingmann. In addition, the federal government must launch funding programs for climate-neutral energy and heating systems as well as for energy-efficient building refurbishment.
But the Greens also see the country challenged. A funding program is needed to boost electromobility, for example for ambulance companies or taxis, said Lüddemann. She also criticized the state government for the course in expanding the wind power area targets. "The Prime Minister complains that we have to fulfill more percentages than other countries when expanding wind energy. You could use that as a location advantage. We are really well positioned here, but unfortunately the state government doesn't see it as an opportunity."
In the future, the Federal Government intends to set legally binding area targets for the federal states for wind power. Saxony-Anhalt should meet higher standards than other states such as Bavaria. Prime Minister Reiner Haseloff (CDU) had called on the other federal states to be more committed to expanding renewable energies. According to the CDU politician, Saxony-Anhalt ranks second per capita in a nationwide comparison in terms of wind power generation and third in the area of solar energy. According to Haseloff, the countries in southern and south-western Germany in particular have some catching up to do when it comes to expansion.
