Grüne on climate and energy

The Greens want to write climate protection into the Rhineland-Palatinate state constitution as a state goal. This is meant to make responsibility for the livelihoods of future generations legally binding. The party stands by the target of climate neutrality by 2040.

The Greens want to put climate protection into the state constitution. The constitution is the most important law of the state. Then the state must always protect the climate. This should also help people in the future.

The platform points to the new state climate protection law, which sets climate neutrality by 2040. According to the party, this includes fixed emission reduction paths, clear responsibilities, fully renewable electricity by 2030 and a CO₂ shadow price for state buildings. In addition, climate protection is to gain constitutional rank as a state goal. The Greens justify this with independence from fossil fuels and lasting prosperity.

The Greens want to turn the state-owned development bank ISB into a "climate bank" that gives stronger support to investment in climate neutrality, energy efficiency and sustainability. Older and poorer homeowners in particular are to get help with energy retrofits.

The state has its own development bank. It is called ISB. The Greens want to make it a climate bank. The bank should give money for climate protection and saving energy. Poor and older homeowners should get help first.

The platform names the European Investment Bank as the model. The ISB is to offer more attractive incentives and support for climate-friendly investment. The focus is on energy modernization of buildings for owners who cannot afford the costs. The platform highlights rural areas in particular.

The Greens want to continue the Kommunaler Klimapakt (municipal climate pact) and the KIPKI investment program and turn them into a permanent climate protection budget for all municipalities. Cities and towns should be able to carry out projects with little red tape.

Cities and villages should get money for climate protection every year. The Greens call this KIPKI 2.0. The places should be able to use the money easily. A state agency should advise them.

In the platform, the new budget is called KIPKI 2.0 and is meant to be permanently available to all municipalities. It builds on the municipal climate pact (KKP) and the existing KIPKI program, which the party regards as a success. The state's energy and climate protection agency is to be further strengthened as the central advisory body for municipalities.

The Greens want to initiate a Bürgerenergiegesetz (citizen energy law) within the first 100 days after taking office. Residents and host municipalities are to receive money from wind and solar installations so that more value stays in the region and local budgets benefit.

The Greens want to make a new law. It is called the citizen energy law. Wind turbines and solar plants earn money. Local people and towns should get a share of it. The law should come very soon after the election.

The law is to govern direct financial participation in wind and solar installations. The party also wants to expand so-called energy regions, where electricity and heat are produced and used locally, in order to lower energy costs there. Municipalities and citizen energy projects are to receive advice. Social-sector organizations are also to get more advice and support for their climate efforts.

The Greens want to speed up the expansion of power grids and make it cheaper. A new state-level office is to coordinate grid and storage expansion, backed by a storage strategy. Limits on feeding renewable electricity into the grid are to be removed.

The Greens want to build power grids faster. A new state office should steer this. The state should also plan power storage. Then power is there when people need it. Green power should flow into the grid without limits.

The coordination office is to be based at the state level and align the expansion of grids and storage. The party wants to draw up a plan for grid-supporting storage, meaning storage that relieves the power grid. It also relies on sector coupling, the linking of electricity, heat and transport. The aim is for power to be available at the right time without overloading the grids.

The Greens want to further expand wind power, relying on fixed land targets, a large pool of suitable sites, less bureaucracy and more staff. Cooperation with nature conservation is to continue in order to avoid conflicts.

The Greens want to build more wind turbines. There should be fixed targets for land. The offices should get more staff. Permits should come faster. Nature groups should have a say.

The basis is the Fachbeitrag Windenergie und Naturschutz, a map of low-conflict sites. According to the platform, it was produced under the lead of the environment ministry together with conservation groups and the wind industry. It is meant to speed up permits and reviews. The party stresses that, in its view, climate protection and preserving biodiversity belong together.

The Greens want to use the state's solar law to put more photovoltaics on buildings and already sealed surfaces. An easily accessible advisory service is to accompany the expansion.

The Greens want more solar panels. They should go mainly on roofs and built-up land. For example on parking lots. People should get simple advice on this.

The party wants land to be used in an innovative, efficient and balanced way. It names agri-photovoltaics, meaning solar installations on farmland, as well as flat roofs, covered parking lots and balcony solar units. Strips along roads and rail lines are also to be used for solar installations.

The Greens want to advance the heating transition with advice for municipalities, residents and energy cooperatives. A platform is to disclose prices for district and local heating. Deep geothermal energy is to be supported through clear procedures.

The Greens want to support climate-friendly heating. Towns should get advice on heating networks. A heating network brings heat through pipes to many homes. A website should show district heating prices. Heat from deep underground should also be used.

The state energy and climate protection agency is to advise municipalities on building and expanding heating networks, ideally using waste heat or river heat. The state consumer advice center is to be strengthened for its advice to residents. Energy cooperatives are to get help founding citizen-owned local heating networks. For deep geothermal energy, the platform calls for clear permitting, quick site exploration and high environmental standards.

The Greens want a state strategy to preserve biogas plants as a source of energy and heat. The plants are to supply power more flexibly and mainly process residual materials.

The Greens want to keep biogas plants. The state should make a plan for this. The plants should deliver power when it is missing. They should mainly use waste, such as food waste and manure.

The strategy is to continue the conversion of biogas use already under way: larger storage and generators instead of steady feed-in. This way biogas is to supply balancing power that evens out fluctuations in the grid. Residual materials such as organic waste, manure and sewage sludge get priority. The party also wants to promote new crops such as hemp or silphium, which it sees as good for biodiversity, and the use of waste heat.

The Greens want to implement the state's hydrogen strategy and build a hydrogen economy for business and industry. A state hydrogen competence center is to be set up for this purpose.

The Greens want more green hydrogen in the state. Hydrogen is a gas that stores energy. Companies and factories should be able to use it. The state should found its own center for this.

According to the platform, the hydrogen is to be green, produced in the region and distributed sensibly. The planned competence center is to support those involved in expanding the infrastructure. Money for hydrogen infrastructure for industry is also planned in the proposed RLP future fund.

The Greens want to expand the existing "Eff-Check" advisory service into a "climate check for small and mid-sized businesses and skilled trades." Companies would get concrete suggestions on saving energy and becoming climate neutral. Climate technologies would also become a fixed part of vocational training in the trades.

The Greens want to advise companies on climate protection. There is already a service called Eff-Check. It should become a climate check for smaller companies and trades. Companies then get tips on saving energy. Trainees in the trades should learn more about heat pumps and solar power.

The climate check is meant to give companies tailored recommendations on energy efficiency, switching to renewable energy and reaching climate neutrality. The party wants to keep giving targeted support to industrial transformation projects. Heat pumps, photovoltaics and storage technology would become part of basic training in the skilled trades. The platform calls for regular further training for chimney sweeps and energy consultants. The party also wants to help make sure that green hydrogen infrastructure for energy-intensive industries is ready in time.

The Greens oppose longer operating lives for nuclear plants and the construction of new ones anywhere in Europe. They point to risks in normal operation, in disasters and in war, and to dependence on uranium imports. They want the plants near the border at Cattenom, Tihange and Doel shut down.

The Greens are against nuclear power plants. They want no new plants in Europe. Old plants should not run longer. The party says nuclear power is dangerous and expensive. Three plants near the border should be shut down.

The party opposes extended operating lives and new reactors across Europe. As reasons it cites risks that, in its view, cannot be contained in normal operation, in a disaster or in wartime, as well as dependence on imported uranium. It continues to back the shutdown of the Cattenom plant in France and the Tihange and Doel plants in Belgium. The platform regards nuclear power as an expensive high-risk technology and says climate protection can only work with renewables.

The Greens call on the federal government to set an effective carbon price that is socially balanced by a Klimageld (climate dividend paid to residents). They also want to make electricity cheaper by lowering charges and levies. They say the federal government must not shirk its climate responsibility at the expense of future generations.

The Greens want a price on CO₂. CO₂ is a gas that harms the climate. People should get money back for this. This payment is called Klimageld. Electricity should also become cheaper.

The demand is aimed at the federal level. According to the platform, fair climate protection needs a carbon price that actually works, together with social compensation in the form of the Klimageld. The party also pushes for lower charges and levies on electricity to ease the burden on consumers.

The Greens want to make solar installations mandatory for new buildings and major roof renovations. At the same time, rules for installing solar systems are to be simplified. New buildings should also get green roofs and facades and make use of rainwater.

The Greens want a requirement for solar panels. It applies to new buildings. It also applies when a roof is fully renovated. The rules for installing solar panels should become simpler. New buildings should get green roofs.

The requirement would apply to new buildings and to major roof renovations. Rules for installing solar systems are to be simplified further. New buildings would get green roofs and facades and would collect and use rainwater. The party wants to further ease timber construction and the use of natural building and insulation materials.

The Greens want to make the state's own properties climate-neutral. The state is meant to lead by example on the way to a climate-neutral Rhineland-Palatinate.

The state owns many buildings. These include universities, police stations and courts. The Greens want to make these buildings climate-neutral. That means they should no longer harm the climate. The state should set an example.

The program names buildings used by universities, the police and the justice system. They are to be supplied with renewable energy, and their heating is to run without fossil fuels. In addition, electric mobility is to be expanded, buildings renovated and floor space used sparingly.

The Greens want to remove paved surfaces across the state and add more greenery to towns and villages. Climate-adapted land-use planning is to become binding in the state. People who unseal private land should benefit through lower stormwater charges.

Towns and villages have a lot of concrete. Rain cannot soak into the ground there. The Greens want more green and less concrete. Municipalities should have to plan for heat and rain. People who remove concrete on their land should get a reward.

The campaign would work with incentives for municipalities, competitions and public campaigns. Binding land-use planning is meant to ensure greenery, water retention, shade and less sealing, following the "sponge city" principle. Remote sensing and artificial intelligence should help record and manage sealed surfaces within towns. The reward for private unsealing would run through municipal stormwater bylaws. At federal level, the party wants permanent funding for climate adaptation managers in municipalities.