"BERLIN, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Germany signalled a U-turn in key energy policies on Sunday, floating the possibility of extending the life-spans of coal and even nuclear plants to cut dependency on Russian gas, part of a broad political rethink following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
Europe's top economy has been under pressure from other Western nations to become less dependent on Russian gas, but its plans to phase out coal-fired power plants by 2030 and to shut its nuclear power plants by end-2022 have left it with few options.
In a landmark speech on Sunday, Chancellor Olaf Scholz spelled out a more radical path to ensure Germany will be able to meet rising energy supply and diversify away from Russian gas, which accounts for half of Germany's energy needs.
'The events of the past few days have shown us that responsible, forward-looking energy policy is decisive not only for our economy and the environment. It is also decisive for our security,' Scholz told lawmakers in a special Bundestag session called to address the Ukraine crisis."
Germany had to learn the hard way: nuclear energy is the only source capable of providing reliable, carbon-free energy - and maintaining energy independence. Whether the U.S. will have to learn the hard way too remains to be seen. - BM
Photo: The closure of Elmsland nuclear power plant, scheduled for the end of this 2022, may be reconsidered.