Bye, bye Nord Stream 2; hello alternative fuels....

[Sogo]

I like this opinion:

https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/23/opinions/nord-stream-2-germany-putin-gas-energy-hockenos/index.html

....
While the energy implications for the rest of Europe -- some of which intended to rely on Russian gas to heat its homes for decades to come -- are far-ranging, they aren't tragic. On the contrary, this is a blessing in disguise.
....
Europe may rely on Russia for around 35% of its natural gas -- Germany over 50% -- but there are green alternatives that can step in and at the same time serve the purpose of addressing the ever more urgent climate crisis.
....
In fact, the pipeline was wildly controversial from the get-go, over a decade ago. Natural gas after all is a fossil fuel, the combustion of which emits high quantities of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. In Germany, natural gas is responsible for 20% of carbon emissions -- in other words, it's not in the least bit climate friendly.
The pipeline, which would have constituted Europe's largest fossil fuel project, flew in the face of the 2015 UN Paris accord by ignoring Europe's commitment to lower greenhouse emissions and keep global temperatures from rising less than 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Also, it committed western Europe to Russia for an ever greater share of its energy supply -- obviously an miscalculation given Putin's geopolitical weaponization of energy since 2009 when it first cut gas deliveries to eastern Europe.
....
Fortunately, the continent is already in the thick of transitioning from fossil fuels to electricity-based renewable energy. There are plans in place, strengthened last year at the COP26 summit in Glasgow and driven by the EU Green Deal, as well as pledges galore, though most countries have been much too slow in acting upon them. These plans have to be put into fifth gear, understood now as the solution to two crises.
....

[The article goes on to describe all the alternatives available to Europe.]

[cilla4progress]

1. I know, right?

Sometimes it takes a disaster to get people moving toward positive change!

[hunter]

2. Germany was importing gas to support its renewable energy fantasy...

... and reduce their dependence on coal.

Without Nord Stream 2 Germany will burn more coal. This will reduce the amount of wind and solar power their electric grid can accommodate and increase their per kilowatt-hour carbon dioxide emissions.

There's no good news here.

[Ghost Dog]

3. The bottom line, in the short-medium term, is this,

as this writer puts it:

Europeans simply have to use less energy: drive less, heat less, consume less.

[NickB79]

4. Does that mean Germany will be restarting idled nuclear reactors too?

Or just burning a bunch of extra coal instead?

[LetMyPeopleVote]

5. Pres. Biden announces U.S. will impose sanctions on Nord Stream 2 AG

Link to tweet