One of these beacons was lit by Bavaria's Minister of Economic Affairs and Energy Hubert Aiwanger (Free Voters). The Lower Bavarian was not able to get the orange-black coalition agreement to renounce high-voltage power lines. But then came the white-blue energy summit in December last year.
"Climate protection and local value creation" were highlighted by Aiwanger as central points of his "ambitious goals" after this meeting of the energy leaders. He wanted to "provide a secure and affordable energy supply in Bavaria as quickly as possible that is also sustainable. And this must generate added value in Bavaria," various media outlets quoted him as saying. And: In Bavaria, "the important things should be taken into our own hands", then new "power lines would no longer be the decisive issue", but above all the expansion of renewable energies, the expansion of the distribution grid and electricity storage. Aiwanger's government goal: the highest possible level of renewable self-sufficiency in Bavaria.
The second fixed star was lit up by Federal Energy Minister Peter Altmaier (CDU) shortly after Epiphany: Andreas Feicht will become the new permanent State Secretary for Energy and Digital Affairs at his ministry on 1 February.
For three quarters of a year, no rays of energy emanated from the desk of the second man in the ministry: The Green Party's Rainer Baake had taken his hat off at the beginning of the current GroKo period. The "big vacancy in Altmaier's house is now closed", the trade magazine Energie und Management is now pleased to report.
Minister Altmaier calls Feicht "an outstanding energy expert for the energy transition"; he also wants to "send a signal to cities and municipalities that their legitimate concerns will be given even better consideration in the federal government in future". So it's no wonder that there is also a lot of praise for the "new guy" from the eco-energy side.
Andreas Feicht was head of WSW Wuppertaler Stadtwerke GmbH for over ten years, so he really knows his way around decentralized energy and distribution grids. And even if there is an opinion that Wuppertal is a little "peculiar": As Vice President of the Association of Municipal Companies (VKU), Feicht has close contact with municipal companies beyond the borders of NRW. He currently even holds an honorary international position: he is President of the Federation of Local Energy Companies (CEDEC).
It doesn't get any worse than this, you could say shortly before the end of 2018. Although: for those who have reached the bottom of the barrel, all roads lead upwards anyway. However, the energy transition will not automatically pick up speed again. It is therefore to be hoped that the two fixed stars do not turn out to be shooting stars and soon burn out again. After all, many people had praised Feicht's predecessor Rainer Baake in advance. Then came a lot of negative things from him.
Author:
Future Energy Team Gammel
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