Germany Resorting , to Coal Power , Amid Energy Crisis.<br />NPR reports that Germany has been forced <br />to resort to using the world's dirtiest <br />fossil fuel amid a worsening energy crisis.<br />As part of the country's commitment to phasing out coal <br />by the end of the decade, many coal-fired power plants <br />throughout the country were scheduled to be shut down.<br />With Russia cutting natural gas supplies to Europe, at least 20 coal-fired power plants will be resurrected or extended past their closing dates.<br />The government has reportedly <br />renewed many coal plants' licenses <br />while capping utilities' earnings.<br />Utilities companies have vowed <br />to spend earnings from burning coal on <br />constructing more wind turbines and solar panels. .<br />Utilities companies have vowed <br />to spend earnings from burning coal on <br />constructing more wind turbines and solar panels. .<br />However, according to NPR, <br />many environmentalists fear the German <br />government isn't doing enough to ensure that.<br />Despite the cost, some environmentalists admit that coal may provide the quickest and most efficient way to combat the energy crisis.<br />We can understand the government restarting coal-fired power plants in Germany, but on one precondition: Coal is destroying the climate. So in the end, we do not accept any additional CO2 emissions without a commitment to savings, Karsten Smid, Greenpeace Germany, via NPR.<br />Greenpeace Germany's Karsten Smid suggests the government ensure that all coal-produced CO2 will be offset by reducing emissions elsewhere in the economy.<br />Such a promise has not been made by the German <br />government, which may be forced to compromise <br />on climate promises as winter draws near.
