Germany’s massive build out of renewable power generation resources and simultaneous nuclear power phase out has resulted in a difficult situation where coal use and customers’ electric bills are rising. The country’s new energy minister, Sigmar Gabriel, discussed these issues in a policy speech on Tuesday.

Read Breaking Energy coverage of the German energy situation here.

“We need to keep in mind that the whole economic future of our country is riding on this,” said Mr. Gabriel, who is responsible for the Energiewende, or energy transformation. “The energy transformation has the potential to be an economic success, but it can also cause a dramatic de-industrialization of our country.” – As reported by the New York Times