Green Energy Failing in Germany

Is this the energy future for Georgetown and America if they continue down this path? nytimes

A de facto class system has emerged, saddling a group of have-nots with higher electricity bills that help subsidize the installation of solar panels and wind turbines elsewhere. 

Germany has spent an estimated 189 billion euros, or about $222 billion, since 2000 on renewable energy subsidies. But emissions have been stuck at roughly 2009 levels, and rose last year, as coal-fired plants fill a void left by Germany’s decision to abandon nuclear power. That has raised questions — and anger — over a program meant to make the country’s power sector greener. 

This lack of progress is an “illustration of the partial failure of the energy transition,” said Artur Lenkowski, an energy analyst at IHS Markit, a research firm. “The whole point of the energy transition was to lower greenhouse gas emissions.” 

Renewable energy subsidies are financed through electric bills, meaning that Energiewende is a big part of the reason prices for consumers have doubled since 2000.

The difference between Georgetown and Germany with respect to green energy is that all U.S. taxpayers are subsidizing the solar and wind energy delivered to Georgetown, while the German rate payers provide the subsidies in Germany.

It is only a matter of time before the Georgetown electricity rates increase - when the contracts are renegotiated.