It is the declared main goal of this election period: Kretschmann wants to massively expand renewable energy – the Ukraine war has made this even more urgent. But he’s lost without the municipalities.
Gerlingen (dpa/lsw) – Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann wants to campaign for support for the energy transition at a meeting of the Baden-Württemberg mayors’ association in Gerlingen (Ludwigsburg district) today. Cities and municipalities play a major role in the expansion of wind power and solar energy because they have to make the space available for the systems. The Greens’ head of government is urging hurry up in order to be able to become independent of Russian gas supplies more quickly. For example, he wants to halve the time it takes to erect a wind farm from the previous average of seven years.
The association includes active and former mayors and mayors of a total of 1101 cities and communities in the southwest. According to its own statements, it is the mayors’ association with the largest number of members in Germany, with around 2,000 members. The municipalities are currently not on good terms with the country, because they insist on paying the costs for Ukrainian war refugees in full, which the government refuses. The country argues that the looming recession caused by the Ukraine war has significantly reduced its financial leeway. The negotiations with the city, community and district council should continue before the summer break.
