Eliminating coal is anti-competitive. That’s why our economic competitors quietly laugh at US electric utilities for quitting coal in pursuit of high electricity prices.
Germany
Germany’s $222 billion renewable energy disaster
Germany has spent $222 billion since 2000 on renewable energy subsidies — but CO2 emissions have been stuck at roughly 2009 levels, and rose last year. Coal-fired plants have filled the void left by Germany’s decision to abandon nuclear power. Germany has among the most expensive electricity in Europe — coal provides the “electricity” part, while wind/solar provide the “most expensive” part.
Here’s what a German voter had to say:
Coal saved Germany’s summer
Although more wind turbines and solar plants were installed in Germany than in the previous year, the amount of green electricity generated fell. Lignite and, above all, coal-fired power plants had to step in to meet the demand for electricity.
Read more: Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (translation Global Warming Policy Foundation)