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Kevin Kühnert: Heating law before the summer break “absolutely realistic”

Kevin Kühnert: Heating law before the summer break “absolutely realistic”

Will the federal government’s controversial heating law come before the summer break? SPD General Secretary Kevin Kühnert has a clear opinion on this.

SPD General Secretary Kevin Kühnert has shown himself confident that the heating law, which is controversial in the coalition, can be passed before the summer break. He now thinks that is “absolutely realistic,” said Kühnert on Thursday evening on the ZDF program “Maybrit Illner”. “And I think the public has also noticed that many statements and statements on the subject have changed significantly in tone and quality.”

He firmly assumes that the law will be on the agenda for the first reading in the week of the Bundestag session in two weeks. “That’s the prerequisite for us to get through the law before the summer break – that’s the aim.” The summer break begins after July 7th.

Heating law: Robert Habeck is also confident

After bitter disputes within the traffic light coalition of SPD, Greens and FDP, there seemed to be movement in the search for compromises. Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) had again shown himself more confident that the reform of the building energy law – the so-called heating law – can be passed before the summer break.

The FDP wants fundamental improvements to a draft law that has already been passed by the cabinet. This stipulates that from the beginning of 2024 every newly installed heating system should be operated with at least 65 percent green energy. The switch is to be socially cushioned by state funding, and there should also be transitional periods and hardship regulations.

FDP for rapid increase in CO2 price

The Ministry of Economy defended its course. In answers to questions from the FDP, the department opposes a path proposed by the FDP – controlling the price for the emission of climate-damaging carbon dioxide (CO2). The ministry warns of the danger that without price caps, energy prices could skyrocket. However, this should be avoided against the background of the experience of the energy crisis.

According to the ministry, Habeck had invited the reporters from the three traffic light groups on Tuesday evening to answer 77 questions asked by the FDP reporters. The answers are now also in writing, they were presented to the German Press Agency on Thursday.

FDP parliamentary group leader Lukas Köhler recently spoke out in favor of introducing emissions trading for traffic and buildings in Germany as early as 2024 – an introductory phase with a fixed price for CO2 emissions is currently scheduled until 2026. “The prospect of rising CO2 prices in emissions trading is the best incentive for people to reduce emissions when heating and driving,” says Köhler.

“In contrast to bans and regulations, emissions trading also provides additional income that we can pay back to people as climate money, thus ensuring social balance.” At the same time, a “technology-open building energy law” could be passed.

Massive expansion of the heat pumps necessary

The Ministry of Economics wrote in the catalog of answers that the price development in emissions trading and the development of market prices for fossil fuels over longer periods of time is difficult for owners to forecast, who generally have no experience in the energy markets, and therefore hardly to take adequate account of when making investment decisions.

A mix of instruments is necessary for the heat transition. “The decision to have a modern heating system based on at least 65 percent renewable energies is often associated with higher investment costs, which, however, should pay for themselves when you consider the long-term cost effects of emissions trading.”

The 77 questions and answers deal with many details about the draft law. The ministry writes that depending on the long-term scenario, between 13 and 18 million heat pumps would be needed in 2045 for a climate-neutral heat supply in the building sector. By 2045, Germany is to become climate-neutral. According to information from the industry, around 1.2 million customers in Germany currently use heat pumps.

When asked which funds should be used for state funding, after the funds from the climate and transformation fund had already been exhausted or oversubscribed, the ministry replied: the climate and transformation fund – a special pot in addition to the normal federal budget – was “adequate”, to provide the necessary financial resources.

Source: Stern

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