Energy - Association of Cities warns of delay in heat planning
The German Association of Cities has warned against delays in municipal heat planning. Chief Executive Helmut Dedy told dpa that the federal states must implement the law into state law quickly. "It is not enough for there to be a heat planning law at federal level. Only when the state laws are in place can the cities collect data on the building stock or existing heating networks." This is the first step for any municipal heat planning.
"Unfortunately, we are receiving signals that the federal states may take the unresolved issues regarding the federal budget as an opportunity to wait with the necessary state laws on heat planning," said Dedy. However, the deadlines for municipalities to draw up a heat plan in the Heat Planning Act are already tight and without any buffer.
"We cannot afford any further delay," emphasized Dedy. If the heating transition is to really pick up speed, the federal government must resolve outstanding budgetary issues quickly. "Heat planning alone will not bring about a heat transition. It depends on the implementation. We urgently need clarity about the planned funding."
Heat planning law to come into force in January
In a motion, Bavaria is calling for the Bundesrat to refer the Heat Planning Act to the Mediation Committee. The motion states that the law imposes a considerable number and significant amount of additional tasks on the federal states and, as a result, on local authorities - without the federal government even beginning to compensate for the associated additional financial burden or even making any concrete commitments in this regard.
The Bundestag has already passed the law. It supplements the Heating Act and is due to come into force at the same time as the latter on January 1, 2024. Large cities are to draw up heating plans by the end of June 2026, smaller cities and municipalities with fewer than 100,000 inhabitants by the end of June 2028.
Only once a municipality has a heating plan will homeowners have to ensure that their new heating system is powered by at least 65% renewable energy when it is installed. The new heating law will initially apply to new buildings within new development areas from 2024.
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- The concern over the delay in municipal heat planning extends beyond the German Association of Cities, as consumer groups also express their concerns about potential delays.
- Without swift implementation of state laws on heat planning, Germany may struggle to meet its climate goals under the Climate Convention of Cities.
- Adequate funding for municipal heat planning is a key concern for Helmut Dedy and the German Association of Cities, as gas and electricity costs for heat turnaround are significant.
- The delay in heat planning could hinder Berlin's efforts to transition to renewable energy sources for heating, which may impact the city's long-term energy strategy.
- Federal Council members have raised concerns about the additional financial burden imposed by the Heat Planning Act, which could potentially lead to further delays in its implementation.
- The new regulations mandate a substantial overhaul of Germany's heating infrastructure, which relies heavily on fossil fuels like gas, making timely implementation crucial for the country's future energy consumption.
- The population's reliance on warm homes during winter months highlights the need for careful, expedient heat planning and implementation to avoid negative consequences for electricity and gas supply.
- Furthermore, the delay in implementing the Heat Planning Act may negatively affect Germany's ambitious goal to phase out fossil fuels for heat by 2045, enshrined in the German government's Heat Turnaround Strategy.
Source: www.stern.de
