Jakob Blankenburg, the climate policy spokesperson for the SPD faction, stepped back from the proposed Building Modernisation Act and signalled forthcoming amendments. “These are only key points, not the finished law” he told the newspapers of the Funke Media Group in their Wednesday editions. The work is only just beginning in many respects. The actual text of the law would outline how socially fair and effective it ultimately becomes, and that is why the legislators are taking the time now.
The Social Democrats, who backed the Building Energy Act in the previous legislative period, clash with the coalition’s chosen path for a reform. “As the SPD we wanted a different approach” Blankenburg said. “In the federal election most voters indicated a desire to move away from the existing law”. He added that the party now works with the current framework and accepts the challenge of turning those policy outlines into a coherent statute.
Blankenburg said the overall direction is unmistakable: move away from oil and gas toward renewable heat. He stressed that no one should have to wait for subsidies for renewable heating to stop. “The decision is unmistakable: fossil heating will become a cost trap. District heating or heat pumps are the most sensible choices” he explained.
Two areas where he sees a need for change are highlighted.
“1. Fairer funding” – The subsidies must be more equitably distributed and actually reach those who need them most. “If a household’s heating fails, they should not be forced to rely on a gas boiler because of lack of money” Blankenburg said.
“2. Tenant protection” – About 58 % of Germans rent and therefore cannot decide on heating in their apartments, yet they end up paying the bill. “If landlords make decisions, they also have to take responsibility” he told the Funke papers. Blankenburg did not elaborate on how tenant protection would be concretely incorporated into the new law.
