German chancellor reassures households on switch to cleaner energy

Emmanuel Thomas, DPA, Sunday, May 21, 2023

 

BERLIN – German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said amendments were possible to a controversial law to encourage the use of cleaner energy sources rather than oil and gas heating systems, while the core project would remain the same.

The Bundestag, as the German parliament is known, will look at whether the law can be made more precise in some areas, Scholz told broadcasters ntv and RTL in an interview released on Sunday.

“However, I assume that it will not be changed in its basic structure. But [the law] must be such that no one is overburdened economically and socially,” Scholz (Social Demokrats) said, speaking on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Japan.

He said much had been done to ensure this was not the case. Under the draft law passed by Scholz’s Cabinet, every newly-installed heating system in Germany is to be powered by 65% green energy as of 2024, as far as possible.

The regulation is set to apply to all owners up to the age of 80. Current oil and gas heaters can still be operated, though, and broken ones repaired.

Subsidies will be made available to reduce the impact on lower-income households, according to the Economy Ministry. The law is proving controversial, within the chancellor’s three-party governing coalition as well as nationwide.

While the Green Party wants the law passed as soon as possible, the pro-business FDP is reluctant to press ahead. Scholz’s Social Democrats want parliamentary deliberations to begin soon and then for changes to be made.

Scholz dispelled most people’s concerns, saying they no longer applied to the draft in its current form. “They refer to a rough draft that was not intended for publication,” he said. What would now follow was a “completely normal parliamentary procedure,” the German leader added, referring to any amendments.

There has been widespread concern about the law, with some fearing that a ban on the installation of new gas and oil heating systems could lead to soaring costs.