Finance Minister Lindner is in favor of a limited and effective promotion of heating exchange and refers to the rising CO2 price and the tight financial leeway of the state.
Federal Minister of Finance Christian Lindner sees limited state subsidies for the replacement of the heating system. The FDP leader told the “Rheinische Post”: “It is true that the rising CO2 price will provide economic incentives for changes in the coming decades anyway.
But we want to speed things up and otherwise avoid social hardship. However, it must be said clearly that the state cannot bear the costs in the long term and not completely.” Limited funds must be used as effectively as possible.
“Nobody who needs support is left in the lurch,” says Lindner. “I think a subsidy based on the heating to be replaced makes sense.” This means that those whose heaters have the highest CO2 emissions would receive the highest funding. “That would be particularly effective, because it would give us a lot of climate protection per euro. In addition, households with low incomes often have older heating systems. There is a social aspect here.”
In the coalition of SPD, Greens and FDP there has long been a dispute over the next federal budget. Lindner points to limited financial leeway.
Criticism from the Union
The federal government plans that from 2024 every newly installed heating system should be operated with 65 percent renewable energy. Then, for example, heat pumps, solar thermal systems or hybrid systems consisting of heat pumps and gas heating have to be installed.
State subsidies of up to 40 percent of the costs are already available for the installation of heat pumps. Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) wants an additional multi-billion dollar subsidy program that should be based on income.
Criticism of the federal government’s heating plans came again from the Union. The CDU economic politician Julia Klöckner told the “Bild” newspaper that more climate protection was important and right. “But anyone who uses the crowbar without considering the losses endangers acceptance. The traffic light is increasingly becoming a project for the rich who can afford the traffic light plans.” (dpa)