Germany Resorting , to Coal Power , Amid Energy Crisis.
NPR reports that Germany has been forced
to resort to using the world's dirtiest
fossil fuel amid a worsening energy crisis.
As part of the country's commitment to phasing out coal
by the end of the decade, many coal-fired power plants
throughout the country were scheduled to be shut down.
With Russia cutting natural gas supplies to Europe, at least 20 coal-fired power plants will be resurrected or extended past their closing dates.
The government has reportedly
renewed many coal plants' licenses
while capping utilities' earnings.
Utilities companies have vowed
to spend earnings from burning coal on
constructing more wind turbines and solar panels. .
Utilities companies have vowed
to spend earnings from burning coal on
constructing more wind turbines and solar panels. .
However, according to NPR,
many environmentalists fear the German
government isn't doing enough to ensure that.
Despite the cost, some environmentalists admit that coal may provide the quickest and most efficient way to combat the energy crisis.
We can understand the government restarting coal-fired power plants in Germany, but on one precondition: Coal is destroying the climate. So in the end, we do not accept any additional CO2 emissions without a commitment to savings, Karsten Smid, Greenpeace Germany, via NPR.
Greenpeace Germany's Karsten Smid suggests the government ensure that all coal-produced CO2 will be offset by reducing emissions elsewhere in the economy.
Such a promise has not been made by the German
government, which may be forced to compromise
on climate promises as winter draws near.