HANOVER (dpa-AFX) - The renewable energy sector in Lower Saxony has accused Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Katherina Reiche (CDU) of jeopardizing billions of euros in wind, solar, and bioenergy investments. In Lower Saxony alone, 32 billion euros in investments are at risk of collapsing within five years due to the legislative changes proposed by Reiche, according to Bärbel Heidebroek, chairwoman of the state association for renewable energy (LEE).
According to the association, Lower Saxony, as the "number one energy state," would be particularly hard hit by a slowdown in the expansion of climate-friendly energy sources. "We have a vast amount of renewables and an incredibly large volume of investments that are essentially waiting to be implemented," Heidebroek said.
Association Calls for New Grid Summit
While the definition of the problem - namely that there are issues with grid expansion - is correct, Heidebroek noted: "But if I just put up a stop sign at all four corners of an intersection, nothing will move forward and no one will be able to get anywhere. If we had acted this way in the past, we would still be driving horse-drawn carriages today."
Heidebroek warned that if the energy transition is braked, it will jeopardize jobs and create dependencies on fossil fuels. Solutions must therefore be sought together with grid operators and industry: "We need a new grid summit."
According to association figures, nearly 280,000 people were recently employed nationwide in the renewable energy sector. The association was unable to provide a specific figure for Lower Saxony.
"Bad for Lower Saxony"
Criticism of Minister Reiche's plans also came from Lower Saxony's Economics Minister Grant Hendrik Tonne. "The federal government's energy policy course is bad for Lower Saxony," the SPD politician said.
Tonne criticized, among other things, the lack of planning certainty for the expansion of offshore wind energy. "When tenders lead nowhere or are not economically viable, it jeopardizes not only expansion targets but specifically jobs in ports, shipyards, and the supply industry," the minister said.
At the same time, Tonne called for more momentum in the development of a hydrogen economy and a different approach to grid bottlenecks. "From an energy policy perspective, it is no longer justifiable that modern plants are shut down while energy is simultaneously scarce and expensive," he said.
Energy Minister Christian Meyer (Greens) stated that Reiche is endangering thousands of jobs, particularly in Lower Saxony, and making it "even harder to finally cast off the shackles of dependency regarding energy supply and rely on domestic energy."/cwe/DP/men
