(cont'd from yesterday's post)
After years of "energiewende" (their plan to eliminate fossil fuels), Germany reduced the fossil fuel segment of their power from 84% in 2000 to 78% in 2019. For comparison, during the same years the U.S. reduced our reliance on fossil fuels from 86% to 80%.
Our results are similar, but we don't pay a similar price for it (as measured this month). Germans spend 4.89% of their average daily wages for a day's worth of electricity, while Americans spend only 1.24%. Our friends in Germany spend roughly twice as much of their income on power usage (average daily wages are different).
Decades of government subsidies for wind turbines and a forced transition have not led to good results. Back in 2011, triggered by the Fukushima disaster, they decided to close all nuclear plants -- which emit no carbon. That looks like a serious misstep. The disruption of natural gas, another low-emission fuel, due to Russia's war on Ukraine only made it all worse.
Policy mistakes have consequences. Now they're tearing down a village, Lutzerath, to make way for dirty coal mines because their wind/solar energy doesn't produce enough power. It's sad.
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