Overview
- Merz, who spoke Friday at a Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung event in Frankfurt, called the 2038 coal phaseout unrealistic and said some coal plants may stay online longer.
- He endorsed more renewable power but said Germany needs new gas-fired plants that can provide steady baseload electricity.
- He said the gas units should be built at existing sites and do not need to be hydrogen-ready at the start.
- Earlier this week, the government adopted a climate program from Environment Minister Carsten Schneider that speeds wind expansion and rejects a nuclear comeback.
- Germany is on track to miss its climate targets, which adds pressure to balance reliable supply with faster cuts in emissions.