Climate protection needs strong framework conditions – Stefan Kaineder, Provincial Councillor for Environment, and Anja Haider-Wallner, Deputy Governor of Burgenland, visited Energy3000.
At the beginning of March, we had a special visit at Energy3000 in Müllendorf: Upper Austria’s State Councillor for the Environment, Stefan Kaineder, and Burgenland’s Deputy Governor, Anja Haider-Wallner, took a tour of the company to find out about our work and the challenges the photovoltaic industry is currently facing. The focus was particularly on the planned cuts to subsidies by the federal government – a worrying development that is slowing down the energy transition.
Rough headwinds for energy transition
The headwinds are rough, but we want to remain the counter-model,” emphasized Anja Haider-Wallner. The red-green state government in Burgenland remains committed to climate protection and the expansion of renewable energies – even if the new federal government with its black-red-pink coalition is planning cuts that could seriously jeopardize progress in this area.
According to Haider-Wallner and Kaineder, the federal government needs clear and reliable framework conditions in order to drive forward the necessary restructuring of the energy sector. But instead, important subsidies are being cut, while environmentally harmful subsidies are being retained. This development is viewed critically from many sides – including us at Energy3000.
Cuts hit the energy transition hard
The following areas are particularly affected:
- Cancellation of the climate bonus – a measure that has helped many people switch to sustainable energy.
- Abolition of the VAT exemption for photovoltaic systems – a bitter setback for the solar energy sector.
- Cuts in subsidies for clean heating – while fossil fuel subsidies remain in place.
- Dismantling of the Ministry of Climate Protection – a questionable step that weakens climate policy.
At the same time, billions are being invested in the expansion of highways – a questionable priority if climate targets are to be taken seriously.
Photovoltaics remains a key technology for the future
Despite these challenges, Burgenland and Upper Austria will not be dissuaded from their climate policy course. Haider-Wallner announced that Burgenland will pass its own climate protection law in the first half of the year. This includes, among other things:
- A mandatory photovoltaic requirement for new larger commercial buildings and parking lots.
- An unsealing bonus to make areas sustainable.
- Faster environmental impact assessments for important infrastructure projects.
- A pilot project for climate-friendly water supply that equips water supply systems with photovoltaics and electricity storage.
Our conclusion at Energy3000
The future of energy supply lies in the sun – that is beyond question for us. But without a reliable political framework, the path to this goal will be unnecessarily difficult. Together with our political guests, we are therefore calling for a clear commitment to promoting renewable energies and a consistent course in climate policy.
Now is the time to act – for a sustainable, independent and secure energy future!
