German energy

Germany, though a series of unforced errors, is watching its economy crumble as recession extends past two years. The government decided to close their 25 nuclear power plants and cut off natural gas from Russia and industry and households paid the price as cost of electricity rose by 280%. One example is Volkswagon that is closing three of its ten assembly plants and VW has never closed a plant before. VW plans to regroup and build up in the US. The plan is to expand production in Tennessee and South Carolina and build new facilities to build Porsche and Audi models. Much of German chemical producers' capital spending is apparently being shifted to the U.S. Over the past three years, the companies spent €6.5 billion on building new plants there or expanding existing facilities. Germany has reactivated its closed coal plants to reduce energy cost. They were going to lead the way to clean energy but they got ahead of themselves. As countries move away from fossil fuels they cannot rely on wind and solar without nuclear. The US can learn from Germany’s experience.