Federal Government | Günther opposes Reiche's energy policy

Daniel Günther, Prime Minister of Schleswig-Holstein, warns about Katherina Reiche's energy policy. Photo: Felix Müsche/dpa Schleswig-Holstein's Prime Minister Daniel Günther (CDU) opposes the federal government's central energy policy projects. In a three-page letter to Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU), he warns of the significant consequences of the planned reforms and calls for a course correction. The amendment to the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) and the so-called network package planned by Federal Economics Minister Katherina Reiche (CDU) have the potential to “harm the Federal Republic and my federal state,” writes Günther.

His criticism of the planned abolition of the feed-in tariff for private photovoltaic systems on house roofs is particularly clear. He was “extremely irritated” about this, writes Günther. He questions whether the political benefit of such a measure outweighs the possible damage in the comparatively small segment of rooftop PV. Solar systems on private roofs offer citizens a “low-threshold opportunity” to become part of the energy transition themselves. In his view, anyone who makes this more difficult risks a loss of acceptance and speed in the expansion of renewable energies. Günther therefore calls on Merz to change the previous proposals together with the government factions.

"The closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the associated second fossil price crisis within five years clearly shows us that Germany must reduce the risk of renewed price crises as quickly as possible."

Günther also contradicts the federal government's plan to deal with network bottlenecks. The network package provides for areas with limited network capacities to be identified accordingly. In the future, operators of wind and solar systems could be obliged to waive some state compensation in the event of network-related shutdowns.

Günther rejects this so-called redispatch reservation. He describes the regulation as a “devastating signal for project-projecting companies, financing institutes and our municipalities.” Contrary to the federal government's goal, in his opinion it will not reduce costs in the energy system, but increase them. There are more efficient ways to coordinate the expansion of renewable energies with the expansion of the grid.

At the same time, Günther is calling for a faster expansion of onshore wind energy. The planned tender quantities are too small to realize even projects that have already been approved. The federal government must ensure that the areas provided by the states for wind turbines can actually be used.

As justification, the Prime Minister points to the dependence of fossil energy supplies on foreign energy sources: "The closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the associated second fossil price crisis within five years clearly shows us that Germany must reduce the risk of renewed price crises as quickly as possible." This can only be achieved by accelerating the expansion of renewable energies.

His criticism is not alone. According to the available reports, the energy policy spokesman for the CDU parliamentary group in Schleswig-Holstein, Andreas Hein, and Schleswig-Holstein's SPD state chairman, Ulf Kampf, have also demanded corrections. There is also resistance from other federal states as well as from municipalities and companies. At the end of September, the Federal Council also spoke out against the changes, but cannot stop the project on its own.

The conflict between Günther and Reiche also fits into a longer series of disputes within the Union. The Prime Minister of Schleswig-Holstein is considered a representative of the pragmatic Merkel wing of the CDU and has long been critical of the course of the Merz camp and the hyper-business-friendly camp. After the CDU's heavy electoral defeats in Saxony-Anhalt, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Berlin, the different ideas about the party's future course became clearer.

It's not just about the person of the Chancellor. The East German state associations in particular are loudly questioning the federal government's specific plans. This became particularly clear with the so-called firewall against the AfD and with the planned pension reform. The demand came primarily from East German CDU regional associations to maintain the pension without deductions after 45 years of contributions. CSU boss Markus Söder also described the concept as a failure, without deriving a demand for cooperation with the AfD. Merz between unity and criticism

The dispute over energy policy is another example of this. Günther expressly calls on Merz to “correct course” in the current proposals. His criticism is also directed against a federal minister from his own ranks and against the federal government's energy policy line.

For the black-red coalition, the conflict comes at an already difficult time. The Union and the SPD are already arguing about the design of several reform projects. Within the Union, there are different ideas about how far the reform course should go. Günther's letter now makes it clear that these differences also exist in one of the federal government's central energy transition projects. It remains to be seen whether Merz will respond to his party colleague's demands. With agencies

This article cost you nothing. We do: for research, printing and technology. We saved on office rent as well as printing and distribution. And we gave up salary. Nevertheless, the calculation doesn't work without you. We need 300,000 euros by the end of the year. You pay what you can, in return we keep writing.

No paywall, no small print, just one goal: that nd stays.