The German Bundestag passed an amendment to the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) on Thursday (17 December), without support from the opposition. The leftist Die Linke and Greens have called for higher green electricity production targets while the liberal FDP wants to allow “negative emission technologies.” EURACTIV Germany reports.
The law will come into force on 1 January 2021, completely replacing the EEG Act of 2017, to help the country meet the goal of producing 65% of its electricity from carbon-free sources by 2030.
The Social Democrats (SPD) wanted to stipulate in the law that the expansion of renewable energies served public safety. This passage alarmed opposition parties and environmental protection organisations alike, as they feared that a legally stipulated public interest could also have an impact on judicial decisions.