Kretschmann: Check the closure of fun and indoor pools

Created: 07/19/2022, 14:03

Winfried Kretschmann (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen) speaks.

© Tom Weller/dpa

Baden-Württemberg's Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann wants to have fun and indoor pools closed if necessary in the fall if there is a shortage of gas.

Before the gas summit next Monday, the state government is checking "whether we can intervene and if necessary, also have to intervene," said the Green politician on Tuesday in Stuttgart.

This is actually a matter for the municipalities, but at the summit one also wants to talk about the swimming pools with the town and municipality day.

Stuttgart - Basically, the state has little authority to intervene in an energy crisis, here the Federal Network Agency is in demand.

Kretschmann relies on "swarm intelligence" at the meeting with business, municipalities, utilities and trade on Monday to collect ideas for saving energy.

"That's the means we have, you shouldn't underestimate that," warned Kretschmann.

If everyone turned down their heating by one degree in autumn and winter, that would already save a lot of energy.

"Even if some make fun of it, that's appropriate." You have to discuss with the trade what now has priority in times of a shortage of skilled workers.

From his point of view, the first thing that needs to be done is to optimize heating systems on a massive scale instead of replacing them entirely, because that takes a long time and ties up a lot of manpower.

When asked whether the three nuclear power plants should run longer, the Greens' head of government was open to a new review that Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) had announced.

For example, Germany could have problems starting up the coal-fired power plants because the ships could not deliver the coal due to low water.

"That's why it makes sense for him to do another stress test and fact check," said Kretschmann, referring to Habeck.

In Baden-Württemberg, only Neckarwestheim 2 is still connected to the grid and is supposed to be switched off at the end of the year.

dpa