Threatened coal Policy 100 000. Jobs? – Derwesten.de

Berlin / An Rhine and Ruhr.
 Verdi boss Frank Bsirske calculated after Easter with massive protests against economic Minister Sigmar Gabriel (SPD) planned special levy on old coal-fired power plants. Such a duty threatens up to 100 000 jobs, Bsirske said. The plans involve in his view, the risk of deep structural break in the Rhenish lignite mining area.

Gabriel and Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) want the 2020 target of 40 percent less harmful CO ₂ comply with emissions compared to 1990. So far, 27 percent are achieved. By 2020, the power plant emissions are to be reduced in addition to measures already planned by an additional 22 million tons of carbon dioxide. For Gabriel plans to release air when a CO ₂ -Freibetrags for over 20 year old fossil power plants exceeded. The Greens have criticized the advance Bsirskes. The proposal is contrary Gabriel’s “right, but not radical enough,” said Lower Saxony Environment Minister Stefan Wenzel. “The lignite must save a low percentage. Because to speak of structural break, is adventurous. . The biggest threat to this industry is not a sound environmental policy, but the lack of creativity of their managers “

The deputy leader of the Green parliamentary group, Oliver Krischer, said:” Just in time for Easter there with Bsirske for old, greenhouse Braunkohlekraftwerke a new patron saint. No wonder, as the head of Verdi may not inferior as deputy RWE Supervisory Board chief coal-destruction whining competitors’ union IG BCE. “If not finally would shut down old coal blocks that Germany could forget his climate goals.

Bsirske argued in an expansion of the Cogeneration-holding to 25 percent, as foreseen in the coalition agreement, 20 to 30 million tons of CO ₂ could be saved. However, this would also increase the price of electricity. “In order to avoid this, the CO is corrected ₂ Objective for 100 000 jobs – 30,000 indirect direct and 70 000 – venturing into the coal regions”. According to the Association of lignite are available in the industry, including the employees in power plants directly under 21 000 employees.