FDP caved in? Breakthrough in the "heat plan" of the traffic light

Christian Lindner (left) and Robert Habeck ©, Michael Kappeler/dpa

Economics Minister Habeck has wanted to clarify "open questions" of the coalition partner FDP – the SPD and the Greens now think they are on the "home stretch".

Berlin – In terms of content, the project is closely linked to the Building Energy Act (GEG), colloquially known as the "Heating Act": the so-called "heat plan". Now the traffic light coalition has agreed in principle on the law. However, the question of the controversial heating law, which is criticized above all by the FDP with Finance Minister Christian Lindner, is apparently still unresolved.

The draft will go on Wednesday (May 31) "in the state and association hearing," said a spokeswoman for Construction Minister Klara Geywitz (SPD) on Tuesday evening. "The previous sending objection during the departmental vote has been lifted," she continued.

Act on Municipal Heat Planning ("Heat Plan")

Construction Minister Klara Geywitz (SPD) and Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) are striving for the law to determine a large amount of data on the energy consumption of individual buildings in municipalities in order to be able to build a climate-neutral heat supply on this basis.

Large cities are to submit municipal heat plans by the end of 2026, smaller cities and districts by the end of 2028. To this end, grid operators and industrial companies, among others, are to provide data on energy sources and consumption.

"Heat plan" of the traffic light: "Safety for homeowners and municipalities"

This means that the draft can now be "discussed, in particular, with the states and the associations in a reasonable time," it said. Among other things, the planned law is intended to improve the database for future district heating networks. It creates "security for homeowners and municipalities in the modernization of heating systems," Geywitz said last week.

The Heat Planning Act obliges states and municipalities (see info box above). The heating plans of the municipalities are intended to be an important orientation for citizens, because they can find out whether their house will soon be connected to a district or local heating network – or whether they should convert their heating to a heat pump in the foreseeable future.

Traffic light discusses heating law: Kühnert calls for "green light" from the FDP

Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck had met on Tuesday evening with specialist politicians of the traffic light coalition to discuss open questions of the FDP on the heating law plans. SPD General Secretary Kevin Kühnert said in the broadcast "RTL direkt": "We are now really approaching the home stretch." Green Party leader Katharina Dröge also expressed confidence.

Kühnert appealed to the Liberals to clear the way for deliberations in the Bundestag. The FDP should "now give the green light that we can make the first consultation in the next week of the session – that is in two weeks". Then a decision could be made before the summer break.

On Friday (26 May), Habeck had pointed out possible compromise lines on the heating law. In its current version, the draft stipulates that, as a rule, new heating systems may only be installed from 2024 if they can be operated with at least 65 percent renewable energies. Habeck now suggested that this should possibly be limited to new buildings for the time being and that existing buildings should only be put into effect later. (dpa/AFP/frs)