- Redmann and Spahn call for reliability in coal phase-out
Brandenburg's CDU leader, Jan Redmann, aims to prevent his party from achieving a coal phase-out before 2038. "There will be no earlier coal phase-out with us," he told the German Press Agency. The coalition agreement at the federal level, with a phase-out target of 2030, has created great uncertainty in Lusatia. "We will do everything to ensure that the Lusatians can trust the promises of politics again," said Redmann.
According to the law, Germany plans to phase out coal by 2038. However, the traffic light coalition of SPD, FDP, and Greens had agreed in the coalition agreement at the end of 2021 to ideally advance this step to 2030. For the coal mining region in North Rhine-Westphalia, an exit by 2030 is already set. However, there are strong reservations in the structurally weak east, where brown coal is mined and used in Saxony, Brandenburg, and Saxony-Anhalt.
CDU politician Spahn: High electricity prices are a brake on the region
Jens Spahn, deputy chairman of the Union faction in the Bundestag, sees the still high electricity prices as a particular brake on the structural change in the region. "Instead of long debates, quick-acting measures on electricity prices are now needed to also not endanger the transformation process in Lusatia," said Spahn. A cost turnaround in high electricity prices is needed. "Otherwise, we are particularly endangering the energy-intensive industries and thus our industrial nation," said Spahn. Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) had promised to introduce an industrial electricity price. "But he is not doing anything."
Redmann and Spahn discussed with citizens in Spremberg on Tuesday. On Wednesday, both want to visit the competence center for founders and businesses in the industrial park "Schwarze Pumpe" and the Jaenschwalde power plant.
The Commission, in accordance with its authority, shall adopt a decision regarding the coal phase-out in Brandenburg. Despite the coalition agreement at the federal level aiming for a coal phase-out by 2030, Redmann emphasizes that there will be no earlier coal phase-out under his leadership in Brandenburg.
