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Newly Elected Minister-President of Lower Saxony, Olaf Lies, Outlines Ambitious Climate-Friendly Transformation Plan
Hannover, Germany – In a government statement, newly elected Minister-President of Lower Saxony, Olaf Lies of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), has emphasized the need to capitalize on the state’s opportunities for a climate-friendly transformation. “Our economy must continue to grow, not just quantitatively, but also qualitatively, in harmony with our climate goals” said Lies on Tuesday afternoon.
Lower Saxony, with its coastline, wind and sun, as well as established industrial centers, boasts unique advantages in Germany, which the government intends to leverage to create a promising future for the state. The region has already made significant progress in the field of renewable energy and the Minister-President has announced that the state’s strengths will be a key factor in the further economic development of the region.
Lies also highlighted the state’s swift approval process for new energy projects, with a total of 105 days from the submission of complete documents to the final decision. He expressed his expectation that the federal government will soon reduce the electricity tax and network charges, so that the benefits of the energy transition are felt by the people and businesses in their wallets.
The Minister-President also emphasized the importance of involving local communities in the value creation process, which he believes will strengthen the acceptance of the projects. He expects the federal government to take swift action in this regard.
Lower Saxony’s location at the North Sea makes it an ideal hub for the energy of the future, with plans to host around 50% of the EU’s large-scale projects for the production of green hydrogen in the state.
The Minister-President also stressed the importance of climate-friendly mobility in public transportation, as it is a vital component of modern transportation policy, enabling social participation. He announced the introduction of a “Lower Saxony Bus” and the construction of a bus network, ensuring that even smaller towns without direct rail connections are well-connected to larger cities and existing train stations. The state will take full responsibility for the organizational and financial aspects of this project.
The Minister-President also addressed the current challenges facing the state, including the ongoing war in the region, the unpredictable nature of the US government under Donald Trump and the growing competition from China, which is affecting German exports to the country. He emphasized the need for a concerted response to the challenges posed by climate change, which is already causing significant suffering and loss of life in many parts of the world, as seen in the ongoing drought in the region.