D66, GroenLinks and PvdA: closing a coal-fired power station this year

The outgoing cabinet must close one of the four coal-fired power stations this year. That is the view of D66, GroenLinks and PvdA. The parties say that otherwise the Netherlands will not be able to comply with the Urgenda ruling of the judge, which obliges the state to drastically reduce CO2 emissions.

The judge ruled that the State has a duty of care to protect and improve the living environment of its citizens.

“A deal is a deal,” says D66 MP Boucke. “We have to comply with the judge’s ruling. The Netherlands is a constitutional state.” An accelerated closure does have financial consequences. The energy company that owns it loses revenue and has to incur costs, and must be compensated for it. Boucke does not want to say what that may cost.

GroenLinks also does not want to mention an amount, but says that closing a coal-fired power station will save a lot of greenhouse gas emissions, at a relatively low cost compared to other measures. MP Van der Lee: “Another advantage is that you no longer have to provide a subsidy for the co-firing of biomass in that power station. That money is therefore free.”

Stupid business risk

The energy companies themselves have calculated what the accelerated closure of their power plant will cost. They say it runs into billions of euros. For example, energy company RWE wants compensation of 1.4 billion euros because it has to close its coal-fired power station in Eemshaven in 2030. And owner Uniper of the power station on the Maasvlakte is also claiming compensation for closure in 2030.

The government is involved in various legal proceedings with these energy companies of origin German. Arbitration cases are pending that could take months. The Dutch state defends the position that a ban on burning coal is in line with national and international law.

PvdA MP Thijssen: “It has been a stupid business risk for companies to continue with coal. They saw this coming. I don’t think they need much from Dutch society.”

penalty payments

The Ministry of Economic Affairs has made a financial offer to the coal-fired power stations to close quickly. The Riverstone power station, also on the Maasvlakte, has responded with a counter-offer. Negotiations are still ongoing. The ministry says it wants to pay a maximum of 238 million euros.

The government can also look forward to legal proceedings. Despite a fruitful climate talk with outgoing Prime Minister Rutte on the Torentje, Urgenda director Minnesma wants to go to court again. According to her, the government is doing too little. With a penalty of possibly between the 100 million and 2 billion euros wants to force the government into action.

“I understand that Minnesma is taking this step,” says Van der Lee. “The first Urgenda judgment was made six years ago and the verdict is still not being complied with. By closing a power station, we can prevent these penalties.”

According to the three parties, other work must be found for the people who work at the plant to be closed. Or they can take early retirement.

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