Status: 10/18/2022 5:29 p.m
Chancellor Scholz’s decision to temporarily leave the Emsland nuclear power plant online has provoked mixed reactions in Lower Saxony. Clear criticism comes from the Greens.
The Green politicians Julia Willie Hamburg and Christian Meyer designated the Order by Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) to continue operating the Emsland nuclear power plant until April 15 at the latest as “unnecessary and without any technical basis”. This would block the expansion and use of renewable energies. “The chancellor’s approach of drawing guidelines on the issue and thus not agreeing on a common approach is highly irritating.” The additional amount of electricity generated by the nuclear power plant near Lingen is minimal, but it will remain “a security risk in the coming months,” Hamburg told NDR in Lower Saxony.
No impact on coalition talks
Hamburg does not see the currently ongoing coalition talks with the SPD in Lower Saxony affected by the Federal Chancellor’s power word. According to Hamburg, it was agreed that continued operation was superfluous and that a different decision had been made. Lower Saxony’s Environment Minister and Deputy SPD leader Olaf Lies said it was a decision at the federal level: “We can separate that.”
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RWE prepares further operation
Lies, like Prime Minister Stephan Weil (SPD), had always emphasized in recent weeks that from Lower Saxony’s point of view it was not necessary to keep the nuclear power plant in operation beyond the end of the year. He had the same Stress test by the green-led Federal Ministry of Economics revealed. After Scholz’s order to temporarily leave the Emsland nuclear power plant on the grid alongside Isar 2 in Bavaria and Neckarwestheim 2 in Baden-Württemberg, Weil said: “If the federal government, contrary to its original assessment, is convinced that the Emsland nuclear power plant will also be April is needed, we will create the necessary conditions for this at state level in Lower Saxony.” And the energy company RWE also wants to prepare for the continued operation of its nuclear power plant. The operator told the NDR in Lower Saxony that the decision can be understood in the current energy crisis. It is now possible to plan clearly.
AUDIO: Comment: Scholz’s word of power raises the question of respect (2 min)
AUDIO: Commentary: It’s being rolled back – The Chancellor and the word of power (10/17/2022) (2 Min)
Researcher: Hardly any impact on the energy system
Environment Minister Lies explained that his ministry, as the responsible nuclear regulatory authority, was prepared for the upcoming test steps. However, “the Emsland nuclear power plant will not make any real contribution” to solving the current challenges. The fuel rods were already as good as used up. Even if they were reconfigured, the nuclear power plant could only produce a limited amount of power, Lies said. He refused to buy new fuel rods. That doesn’t make economic sense either, said climate and energy researcher Pao-Yu Oei from the European University of Flensburg. According to him, the continued operation has hardly any impact on the overall energy system and is therefore “mainly a political discussion”. This will hardly change anything for consumers, since only minimally less gas will be used.
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Lower Saxony Green Youth: “Pure symbolic politics”
The Green Youth in Lower Saxony criticized the Chancellor’s decision. State spokesman Felix said it was “purely symbolic politics” that had no basis in content and did not contribute to security of supply Hötker in conversation with NDR Info. In the worst case, even renewable energies would have to be switched off due to network congestion caused by nuclear power.
AUDIO: Green Youth on Scholz’s nuclear power word: “Purely symbolic politics” (4 min)
Scientists: “Greens and FDP relieved about power”
The political scientist Thorsten Faas told NDR Info that Scholz was not the first chancellor to threaten his policy competence. What is remarkable, however, is that he “chosen the letter form in order to assert himself” with his ministers. The power of the head of government to issue guidelines is anchored in Article 65 of the Basic Law. Accordingly, the chancellor “determines the guidelines of politics and is responsible for them”. In the event of differences of opinion between the federal ministers, “the federal government decides”. According to the political scientist, the dispute in the government over the nuclear power plant issue was “incredibly corrosive”. Apparently, the FDP and the Greens are now “a bit relieved that a way has been found to get out of this crisis”.
AUDIO: Political scientists on Scholz’ nuclear power plant: “The chancellor is entitled to that” (5 min)
Green parliamentary group leader recommends approval
The Green Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck announced on Monday evening in the ARD Tagesthemen that he would accept the Chancellor’s word of power. The decision made by Scholz with “maximum authority” is an “unusual solution to a stuck situation” and “a way that I can work and live with well”. The top of the Greens parliamentary group also announced on Tuesday that they would campaign for approval despite concerns in the group. The FDP, which had called for all three remaining nuclear power plants to continue running until 2024, welcomed the chancellor’s word of power.
Praise from the IHK, horror among opponents of nuclear power
Approval also came from the Osnabrück-Emsland-Bentheim Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK) and from CDU and FDP members of the Bundestag from the region. On the other hand, there was outrage among the opponents of nuclear power in Emsland. The continued use of the aging power plants is dangerous and represents a significant safety risk, explained several initiatives in Lingen. The decision was purely politically motivated to calm the FDP.
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