Nine mayors are demanding 521 million euros for the coal phase-out in Görlitz!

Nine mayors are demanding 521 million euros for the coal phase-out in Görlitz!

A hotly debated topic in the region around Görlitz is the upcoming coal phase-out and the associated challenges. André Kleinfeld, works council at the Leag Boxberg power plant, puts it in a nutshell: He is even considering legal action to enforce the legally compliant use of federal funds for the coal phase-out. His concerns are not unfounded, as he doubts that the current projects can offer future prospects for the approximately 2,000 employees in the region. They are currently working in the Boxberg power plant and in the Reichwalde and Nochten opencast mines, which are scheduled to remain in operation until 2038.

Nine mayors from the Görlitz district have now called for funding of 521 million euros from structural funds by 2038 in a position paper. They emphasize the urgency of putting more focus on the communities around the opencast mining regions. There is dissatisfaction with the way the funds are allocated, because not only the cities and municipalities in Görlitz can submit applications, but also in Bautzen, which does not simplify the already difficult situation.

Coal phase-out and structural change

In this context, Boxberg's mayor Hendryk Balko points to the annual added value of around 500 million euros through Leag. However, this could be jeopardized by the impending end of coal use. Another planned hydrogen power plant, the so-called H2UB, has been put on hold by Leag, which could affect future plans for the energy transition.

The Lausitzer Revier Regional Monitoring Committee (RBA) plays a key role in selecting projects to apply for coal phase-out funds. Here, the northern municipalities are demanding funds for projects in the areas of schools, leisure centers and transport infrastructure in order to make the region future-proof. Specifically, 305 hectares of commercial and industrial space are to be developed.

But not all demands can be legally implemented, which RBA chairman Romy Reinisch points out. The mayors' position paper is the result of intensive discussions between District Administrator Stephan Meyer and the mayors, in which the urgency of the situation became clear. The federal government has made a total of 2.4 billion euros available for structural change in the Saxon part of the Lusatian district, which provides some leeway. So far, 133 projects have already been selected for funding, with a total volume of 1.5 billion euros, of which 881 million euros have already been committed.

Sustainable transformation in the region

As current developments show, the coal phase-out requires not only economic measures, but also a holistic view of structural change. The Federal Institute for Building, Urban and Spatial Research (BBSR) emphasizes that this process will influence society, the economy and ecology. The participation of people in the affected areas is crucial in order to be able to actively shape the transformation, not only in the Lusatian area, but also in the Central German and Rhenish areas.

The transformation also brings with it new opportunities. According to a report by the Federal Environment Agency, significant jobs could be created in the areas of renewable energy and building renovation, which could partially offset the losses caused by the coal phase-out. It is expected that almost two thirds of employees in the lignite industry will retire by 2030. At the same time, early exit leads to challenging effects, especially in the lignite regions, where job losses have to be spread across the entire age structure.

These developments and the diverse approaches to managing structural change in the lignite regions show that the coming months and years will be extremely crucial for the region. It remains to be seen whether the mayors and citizens will receive the necessary resources and support.