German state governments clash over route of new north-south power transmission line
麻豆无码版 / MDR
The government of central German state Thuringia has criticised neighbouring state Bavaria and the Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) for opaque planning of one of the country鈥檚 important north-south electricity transmission lines that are needed to better distribute renewable power across all of Germany. Thuringia鈥檚 incumbent state premier, Bodo Ramelow of the Left Party, on social media site X that Bavaria鈥檚 government 鈥渞efuses to transmit electricity鈥� from its northern border with Thuringia. He said Thuringia had done its part by ensuring a grid link dubbed 鈥淭h眉ringer Strombr眉cke鈥� (Thuringian Power Bridge) to the border is in place and could even be expanded to transmit more electricity from Germany鈥檚 windy north to industrial centres in the south.
The Thuringian state premier was reacting to released some months ago by national grid regulator BNetzA which propose building a linkage between the existing end of the major power line in Thuringia to Bavaria. public broadcaster MDR, the proposal suggests constructing the power line further through Thuringia before connecting with a relay station in Bavaria, rather than within the borders of Bavaria. MDR said that Ramelow criticised the BNetzA for rejecting an alternative proposal from Thuringia to also consider a route through Bavaria, although the agency insists that no decisions have been made yet.
Bavaria鈥檚 economy minister, Hubert Aiwanger from the Free Voters, who has in the past that the state avoided transmission grid expansion, said in early 2024 that a new power line to Bavaria while promoting a solution that 鈥渟traddles Bavarian territory less鈥� than other routes. Disputes over the exact route of Germany鈥檚 major power transmission lines have held up construction of this key component of the country鈥檚 energy transition for years.
In Bavaria, industry groups and local mayors have repeatedly criticised the coalition of economy minister Aiwanger and conservative Christian Social Union (CSU) state premier Markus S枚der for聽not being resolute enough聽in the transition to renewables. They urged the government to聽lift restrictions on wind power construction, particularly since the loss of Russian gas and the nuclear and coal phase outs have hit the state鈥檚 heavy industry, which features companies such as BMW, Audi and Siemens, harder than many others in Germany.
