Germany continues to intensify draconian measures to cut energy consumption.
Consumers are now having to endure the excruciating economic pain of the country's intensifying energy crisis--brought on by decades of botched green energy policy and heavy reliance on Russian gas.
Germany's natural gas reserves are emptying at record speed because wind and solar power have been on the scarce side over the past few weeks. 1
Many households are facing poverty for the first time
Over 21 million German households heat with natural gas and are now threatened with exorbitantly high additional payments for their gas; already most bills have multiplied. 2
Many households are facing poverty for the first time. In recent times, some households have received notices for new installment payments that amount to seven to eight times the previous price.
The euro has fallen below 99 cents for the first time in 20 years. A weaker euro adds further to the risks of even higher inflation, which is currently pummeling Europe.
Not only are consumers being severely impacted, but so are companies across Germany. As of September 2022, as many as 16% of them have completely shutdown or drastically reduced production because they cannot pass on the gas prices to their customers. 2
Already addled with high natural gas and heating oil costs, German residential building owners are now being required to replace gas furnaces that are 30 years old or more. 3
The plans would allow the power grid operators to remotely limit people's use of heat pumps and electric car chargers next winter without the user's consent
This affects about 2 million oil and gas heating systems in Germany. Refusal or failure to do so will result in fines and the responsible chimney sweeper can even have the heating system shut down.
German leaders lately have offered creative ways of dealing with the resulting crisis, among them, advising people to prepare themselves for a possible blackout lasting for days.
One Minister President from Baden-Wurttemberg, Winfried Kretschmann, suggested that people stop taking hot showers, and instead use a washcloth with a sink and some lukewarm water for bathing. He also suggested heating just one room in the house, turn off the lights and to sleep, eat and do home office work in frosty rooms. 4
A government agency in Germany announced plans to remotely limit home heating and charging of electric cars under a new scheme.
The plans would allow the power grid operators to remotely limit people's use of heat pumps and electric car chargers next winter without the user's consent.
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Since about 2008, Europe has spent nearly $800 billion subsidizing renewable energy
The plans, set to be in place by January 2024, will give energy grid operator's the power to artificially curb electricity demand if consumption outstrips supply. 5
In spite of all this, economists, scientists and environmental campaigners called for the German government to create a 100 billion-euro ($100 billion) fund for tackling climate change. 6
The money is needed partly because of Germany's failure to invest enough in solar and wind power.
The Fridays for Future youth movement, which is helping to coordinate a global climate protest supported the proposal. One of its spokepersons said Germany should take its cue from a bill recently passed in the United States that envisions $375 billion in federal investments to fight climate change over the decade.
As President Biden continues to pour billions of dollars into renewable energy while curbing US oil and natural gas production, Europe's green transition has come to an emergency halt. 7
Germany and other nations are reopening coal plants and rationing energy to void winter blackouts.
Since about 2008, Europe has spent nearly $800 billion subsidizing renewable energy.
The costs have not fallen, Germany has not gotten a green industry. All they have done is increase consumer costs dramatically.
References
P. Gosselin, "Germany's gas reserves emptying at record speed as country struggles to keep war, lights on," notrickszone.com, January 23, 2023
P. Gosselin, "21 million German households, industry suffer body blow as green energy scheme disintegrates," notrickszone.com, September 6, 2022
P. Gosselin, "Germans required to replace 30 year old furnaces--new oil furnaces banned starting i 2026," notrickszone.com, January 7, 2023
P. Gosselin, "Energy crisis: German Minister President suggests heating one room in winter is enough," notrickszone.com November 20, 2022
Mary Aultman, German government to remotely control heating, charging of EVs," principia-scientific.com, January 2, 2023
"Economists, activists call for 100B climate fund in Germany," apnews.com, September 13, 2022
Art Moore, "Europe to US: learn from our $800 billion green energy disaster," wnd.com, November 25 2022
Jack Dini is author of Challenging Environmental Mythology. He has also written for American Council on Science and Health, Environment & Climate News, and Hawaii Reporter.
