In the context of the action days “Demo with Distance“ of the group “Zucker im Tank” (sugar in the gas tank) we organized a protest regarding VGF at the combined heat and power station West. The background:
The Verkehrsgesellschaft Frankfurt (VGF), the public transport operator in Frankfurt, now uses dirty coal power from the Heizkraftwerk West (HKW West). VGF has already used green electricity in the past. What is going on there?
From 2011 to 2014, VGF purchased green electricity from Mainova. Since it was cheaper, VGF decided to conclude a lease agreement for part of the West HKW from now on.
Instead of obtaining electricity from renewable energy sources, the decision was made to use the particularly climate-damaging #coal for economic reasons. The CO2 emissions have almost quadrupled as a result!
Since then, the step back to fossil fuels has emitted as much CO2 as 46,871,207 mid-range cars each driving for one-hour!
The head of the transport department, Oesterling, had repeatedly emphasized that the lease would expire at the end of 2019 and that an ecologically sustainable solution should be found. However, the city government decided otherwise. The parties CDU, SPD and even the Greens are responsible!
The changeover to a slightly more climate-friendly variant is not planned again until 2023, when Power station West will gradually switch to gas operations.
It would be possible to switch over already at the end of 2020. That is why we are calling on VGF and the city government: cancel the lease and ensure that local public transport in Frankfurt is as low in CO2 emissions as possible in times of climate crisis!
Even electricity from gas is not a solution. Because we have no time to lose!