"Traffic light acts without direction": Union demands continued operation of nuclear power
Created: 09/19/2022, 07:37
By: Jens Kiffmeier, Felix Busjaeger
Lower Saxony's Transport Minister Bernd Althusmann (CDU) and CDU politician Christoph Ploß have a clear position on the operation of nuclear power plants in Germany.
A nuclear power plant can be seen in .
© Chris Emil Janßen/Arnulf Hettrich/imago/Montage
The opposition insists on continued operation of the nuclear power plants in Germany.
Before the Lower Saxony elections in 2022, the debate is gaining momentum again.
Berlin - "Nuclear power, no thanks!" was once: In view of the energy crisis in Germany, the possible continued operation of the remaining nuclear power plants has been debated for some time.
While the traffic light government is still struggling to find a common course, the position of the Union is clearer: Because of the gas crisis, the nuclear power plants should stay for the time being.
"I think switching off is negligent," said Bernd Althusmann, the CDU's top candidate in the Lower Saxony elections in 2022, to kreiszeitung.de from IPPEN.MEDIA on the subject of nuclear power.
But he is not the only one to take a clear stance: Christoph Ploß (CDU) and Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) also want to stick to nuclear energy.
Nuclear power in Germany: Althusmann in the debate about extending nuclear power with a clear stance
A few weeks before the state election in Lower Saxony on October 9, Althusmann said that the Lower Saxony election of 2022 was also a vote on extending nuclear power lifetimes in Germany.
The debate should also focus on the Emsland nuclear power plant, for which Althusmann has a clear opinion: “Yes, I would let the nuclear power plant in Lingen continue to operate.
It is the youngest of the three remaining, which together provide a secure power supply for the equivalent of 10 million people," he told
kreiszeitung.de
.
According to the CDU top candidate for the Lower Saxony elections in 2022, it is almost absurd to rely on floating oil power plants, such as those used primarily in Third World countries.
Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck (Greens) recently put forward the idea.
In view of the crisis, however, Bernd Althusmann believes it is necessary to think of society and make sensible decisions together: "But if a federal government acts in such a disoriented manner, sometimes irresponsibly, even the best opposition cannot put the government on the path of bring back sanity.
That's why we have to address the mistakes clearly now, but at the same time also say what we want to do differently.
Despite all criticism, we are always ready to talk.”
Before the Lower Saxony elections in 2022: according to Althusmann, there is no alternative to the continued operation of nuclear power plants in Germany
Although the remaining nuclear reactors in Germany only cover just under five percent of the electricity requirement, according to Althusmann there is no alternative to continued operation: "I consider it negligent to switch off the three nuclear power plants that are still on the grid during this crisis.
In the current crisis situation, where every kilowatt hour counts, we must continue to use nuclear power for two or three years.
Anything else would be irresponsible.” Experts would rate that accordingly.
"Only the disputed traffic light doesn't want to see it." In the midst of the AKW Zoff, CDU leader Friedrich Merz also taunted the Greens in northern Germany.
Extension of nuclear energy: Christoph Ploß wants to put further pressure on Ampel when deciding on nuclear energy
Christoph Ploß takes a similar position on nuclear power as Althusmann.
The politician from Hamburg said to 24hamburg.de from IPPEN.MEDIA on the fringes of the CDU party conference in Hanover: “For many people, the question of whether we will have enough electricity and gas in the coming winter is existential.
That is why we are calling, among other things, for the operating lives of the three nuclear power plants to be extended.
This alone can supply ten million households with electricity.” In his estimation, the traffic light should continue to be put under pressure in the coming weeks.
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"The sensitivities of the Greens must not be more important than the needs of the people in our country.
Your critics accuse the Union of a bogus debate because the remaining reactors can only contribute a maximum of five percent to the electricity requirement," Ploß continued.
His criticism: "We shouldn't have gotten out of nuclear energy and coal-fired power generation at the same time." One would now see that nuclear energy would be urgently needed.
"As I said, it's about ten million households!
The Economics Minister says that every kilowatt hour counts.
Then you can't shut down three nuclear power plants without an emergency."
"What the Greens are doing on the subject of nuclear power is pure ideology": Ploß insists on nuclear power in Germany
While the federal government of Olaf Scholz (SPD) is currently trying to find alternatives to Russian gas imports, Ploß is sticking to the importance of nuclear power plants in Germany: "We now see that we urgently need nuclear energy in addition to renewables.
True, at that time no one could have guessed that Russia would attack Ukraine.
Nevertheless, each party must be prepared to adapt its own policy to changes," he said in an interview with
24hamburg.de
.
People would expect pragmatic answers from their government at this difficult time.
"What the Greens are doing on the subject of nuclear power is pure ideology."
Ploß also has an answer to the question of how long Germany should hold on to nuclear energy: “Yes, we are assuming three to five years for now.
The nuclear power plants generate safe and base load capable CO2-neutral electricity.
Therefore, we must not ignore any option.” In order to achieve the climate protection goals and ensure energy security, he also believes that a longer period of time is possible in which a combination of nuclear energy and renewable energies should be used.
“Federal government erring”: Alexander Dobrindt considers stopping nuclear power to be “wrong ideological grenade decision”
“We are experiencing a federal government that is straying astray with an overwhelmed Federal Minister of Economics, Robert Habeck.
His assessment that we have a gas problem but no electricity problem is a massive mistake," Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) summed up to merkur.de from IPPEN.MEDIA.
In the current situation, stopping nuclear power is a bad ideological decision.
“At this stage, the chancellor is hesitant and unable to pull the plug on his minister.
A confrontation with the traffic light is unavoidable.”
According to the CSU politician, Germany is currently experiencing a stray federal government with an overwhelmed Federal Minister of Economics, Robert Habeck.
Nuclear power yes or no - this question will continue to drive politics in Germany in the coming weeks and it remains to be seen whether the opposition with their concerns can get the traffic light to rethink or whether the stress test for the SPD, Greens and FDP will become one emergency will develop.
