Bundesrat Objects to Draft Law on Accelerating Approval Procedures for Geothermal Energy, Heat Pumps, and Heat Storage
On October 30, 2024, the Bundesrat (Federal Council) published a statement opposing the draft law (20/13556) to accelerate approval procedures for geothermal energy systems, heat pumps, and heat storage, as well as amendments to other legal frameworks for the climate-neutral expansion of heat supply (20/13092). The Bundesrat’s concerns primarily center around the proposed amendments to the Federal Mining Act (Bundesberggesetz).
Bundesrat’s Objections
The Bundesrat raises several objections to the draft law, including:
- Insufficient consideration of regional and local concerns: The Bundesrat argues that the draft law does not adequately consider the concerns of municipalities and other local authorities regarding potential environmental impacts and conflicts of use.
- Weakening of environmental protection: The Bundesrat expresses concern that the proposed amendments to the Federal Mining Act would weaken environmental protection standards, particularly with regard to groundwater protection.
- Lack of coordination with other laws: The Bundesrat points out that the draft law lacks coordination with other relevant laws, such as the Federal Water Act and the Federal Nature Conservation Act.
Government’s Response
In its counter-statement, the federal government acknowledges the Bundesrat’s concerns but maintains that the draft law is necessary to accelerate the expansion of renewable heat sources. The government argues that:
- Streamlined procedures are crucial: The approval procedures for geothermal energy systems, heat pumps, and heat storage need to be streamlined to meet the urgent need for climate-neutral heat supply.
- Environmental protection remains a priority: The government emphasizes that the draft law includes provisions to ensure that environmental protection remains a priority.
- Dialogue with municipalities is ongoing: The government states that it is actively engaging with municipalities and other local authorities to address their concerns.
Next Steps
The Bundesrat’s objections will now be considered by the German Bundestag (Federal Parliament). If the Bundestag approves the draft law, it will be sent to the Bundesrat for a second reading. The Bundesrat can then either approve the law or reject it, which would require the Bundestag to override the rejection with a two-thirds majority.
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Drucksachen a new article on 2024-10-30 11:00 titled “20/13556: Unterrichtung Entwurf eines Gesetzes zur Beschleunigung der Genehmigungsverfahren von Geothermieanlagen, Wärmepumpen und Wärmespeichern sowie zur Änderung weiterer rechtlicher Rahmenbedingungen für den klimaneutralen Ausbau der Wärmeversorgung – 20/13092 – Stellungnahme des Bundesrates und Gegenäußerung der Bundesregierung (PDF)”. Please write a detailed article on this news item, including any relevant information. Answers should be in English.
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