Speak Up, Lies: Mindful Progress in Northern Germany's Energy Revolution: Keep the North from being a Dumping Ground
- *
Alarm over Unfair Energy Transition Information: Avoid Placing Undue Burden on Northern Communities - Energy transition misrepresentations: avoiding excessive burdens on northern communities
Navigating the expansion of green power must not translate into an undue burden for folks in the Northern regions of Germany. So asserts Olaf Lies, the Minister-President of Lower Saxony. "The birthplace of many renewable energy forms lies in the North," Lies opines to the German Press Agency. "This is where offshore wind is thriving, this is where LNG vessels are docking, and this is where hydrogen will reign in the future. We shoulder a large part of the responsibility for the energy revolution. But we're not prepared to unwittingly shoulder this burden for our nation's population."
Letting the pendulum shift out of balance isn't the answer. "Take wind energy expansion, for instance. Folks shouldn't be hard-pressed to put up trenches for power lines alongside these wind turbines. That would exceed what we can ask of our people," comments Lies. "That's why we need buried cables—to preserve public acceptance of wind energy. This factor matters immensely."
"No quick closure of power plants we require"
Serving as the Minister for Economy and Energy, Lies champions the growth of renewables like wind and solar. Yet, he has also advocated LNG infrastructure and questioned the coal phase-out by 2030. "Our objective isn’t the eternal import of fossil fuels," Lies says now. "Expanding infrastructure enables us to entice climate-neutral gases in the future." LNG terminals represent a bridge to greener tomorrows.
"This also applies to gas and coal-fired power plants," Lies continues. "If the federal government acts with alacrity and guarantees that new, hydrogen-compatible gas power plants are invited to bid for projects and constructed, we can decouple from coal sooner. If it takes more time, we'll require coal for a while longer."
One thing remains irrefutable: "We will not switch off power plants that we require. Doing so would be unwise," Lies reiterates. At the same time, we shouldn’t stand down from pressing the energy revolution forward.
"I wear my convictions on my sleeve"
Lies resides in Sande near Wilhelmshaven, thus having LNG infrastructure, hydrogen production, and wind turbines right on his doorstep. Yet, this proximity fails to persuade others of the merits of renewable expansion, according to Lies.
Dealing with increased energies in everyday life is one thing, but concentrating the load on specific areas can cause resentment. "When I show people, 'See, it's just outside my doorstep,' I inevitably hear, 'That's your concern,'" Lies clarifies. Focusing on balance is what matters.
- Olaf Lies
- Energy Revolution
- Lower Saxony
- Renewable Energies
- Northern Germany
- Burden Distribution
- SPD
- German Press Agency
- Offshore
- Ship
Background:
Germany’s renewable energy push, often called the "Energiewende," endeavors to decrease greenhouse gas emissions and raise the share of renewable energy sources. This seismic shift necessitates substantial investments in infrastructure, such as expanding renewable energy capabilities and developing grid infrastructure.
Role of Renewable Energy:
Renewable energy resources, such as wind and solar, play a vital role in making Germany less reliant on fossil fuels and achieving carbon neutrality goals.
LNG Terminals:
LNG (liquefied natural gas) terminal development aims to bolster energy security by providing a replacement for Russian gas. This growth fits into a broader effort to diversify energy resources as Germany undergoes the transition.
Grid Expansion:
Expanding the power grid, including the installation of underground cabling, is fundamental to efficiently integrating renewable energy into the grid and ensuring a dependable energy supply as Germany moves away from fossil fuels.
- The Minister-President of Lower Saxony, Olaf Lies, emphasizes that the expansion of renewable energy in Northern Germany should not be an undue burden for local communities, as the region has played a significant role in the birth and growth of many renewable energy forms, such as offshore wind, LNG, and hydrogen.
- In his role as the Minister for Economy and Energy, Lies has advocated for the growth of renewables like wind and solar, and he supports LNG infrastructure as a means to attract climate-neutral gases in the future, while recognizing that the objective is not to indefinitely import fossil fuels.
- Lies illustrates the need for balance in distributing the burden of energy revolution, supporting a beneficial role for gas and coal-fired power plants in the transition towards renewable energy, while stressing that no power plants that are required for the energy transition should be switched off prematurely.
