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Revenue-neutral – property tax reform drives up taxes
The property tax was supposed to remain neutral, but many municipalities in Lower Saxony are significantly raising their assessment rates. Owners and tenants are now paying significantly more, even though the reform originally promised no hidden tax increase. Smaller municipalities in particular are using the adjustment to stabilize their budgets, which is fueling criticism of…
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Shortsellers are increasingly targeting Europe’s auto industry
The European auto industry is under massive pressure. Short sellers are taking advantage of the uncertainty and deliberately betting on falling prices. Competition from China and high tariffs from the US are putting pressure on manufacturers’ margins. According to the Financial Times, short positions have increased significantly since Trump’s return to the White House. According…
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District heating – a cost trap for owners
District heating is currently causing outrage in Stuttgart. At an information event in Bad Cannstatt, EnBW presented an example with a €45,833 cost for a house connection. Many visitors were “downright shocked.” Added to this were €123,000 in building services costs for an apartment building. In the end, this meant a personal contribution of around…
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Now it is also affecting the IT industry: IT specialists are in significantly less demand
The shortage of IT specialists has noticeably eased in 2024. According to an analysis by the Cologne Institute for Economic Research, the number of open positions fell by 26 percent compared to 2023. Experts with academic degrees are particularly affected. Jurek Tiedemann, an economist specializing in securing skilled workers, describes the development as “rapid.” In…
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Energy transition paradox – Solar roof requirement meets overloaded grids
Solar roofs are now mandatory for new buildings in many German states. However, grid operators are increasingly refusing to allow feed-in. Overloaded power grids render photovoltaic systems on private roofs unusable. At the same time, bureaucracy is forcing homeowners to make investments that are hardly worthwhile without the option to feed in electricity. (zfk: 19.08.25)…
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Google secures site for first nuclear power plant in Oak Ridge
Google has chosen a new location in the US state of Tennessee. Together with Kairos Power, it is building an innovative nuclear power plant in Oak Ridge specifically designed to meet the growing energy demands of data centers. Nuclear energy is seen as key to balancing costs and security of supply. (theverge: 19.08.25) Oak Ridge…
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Porsche plans to liquidate its own battery manufacturer Cellforce – mass layoffs planned
A severe blow is imminent for the Porsche battery subsidiary in Stuttgart. According to research by “Spiegel,” Cellforce is facing almost complete closure. The project, which began as a strategic step into the world of battery cells, is now culminating in a mass layoff. Around 200 of 286 employees are expected to lose their jobs.…
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German industry is increasingly losing competitiveness in global comparison
German industry is under pressure in a fiercely competitive environment. Especially outside the EU, competitiveness feels like an additional burden. Ursula von der Leyen’s “sensational deal” with Donald Trump ensures that EU exports to the US are subject to a 15 percent tariff, while US products enter the EU duty-free. This is exacerbating the industrial…
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US government stops subsidies for solar and wind power on agricultural land
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is pulling the plug. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced that the agency will no longer support solar and wind projects on fertile farmland. The decision fits into a series of measures under President Donald Trump aimed at slowing the expansion of renewable energy. (reuters: 18.08.25) Rollins warns of losses on…
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Rügen LNG terminal runs on ship generators – no connection to the power grid in sight
The LNG terminal in Mukran on the island of Rügen is causing ongoing controversy. The entire power supply is currently based on ship generators, as a shore power connection has not been implemented. According to the Ministry of the Environment, the operator submitted the required data on air pollutants and noise on time. “Including the…
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Merz government threatens to fail with prestigious AI project
The Merz government has formulated ambitious plans. The coalition agreement between the CDU, CSU, and SPD states: “We are positioning Germany as a leading location for future digital technologies.” Artificial intelligence is explicitly considered a key technology. “We are committed to AI breakthrough innovations.” The plan is to massively promote data centers and bring a…
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Hidden poverty: Actual poverty rate in Germany significantly higher than official figures
Thirty renowned poverty researchers have strongly criticized the Federal Statistical Office. The reason for this is the elimination of a calculation method that officially removes over one million people from the poverty statistics. Experts such as Ulrich Schneider, long-time CEO of the Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband (Parity Welfare Association), and social scientist Christoph Butterwegge addressed a letter…
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Radical realignment: Porsche and Piëch families invest outside the automotive industry
The controllers at Volkswagen and Porsche are pushing ahead with a radical realignment. Instead of relying solely on cars, the billionaire families are investing specifically in defense technologies and mobility. This step is intended to reduce dependence on a faltering automotive industry. (berliner-zeitung: 14.08.25). Reorientation toward the defense industry Porsche SE plans to invest up…
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Power grid in Reutlingen overloaded – operator stops private PV feed-in
The power grid in Reutlingen is reaching its limits. Grid operator FairNetz is prohibiting numerous private photovoltaic operators from feeding electricity into the grid. Around 300 households with new systems are affected by the so-called zero feed-in. For them, this means the loss of an important source of income, as surplus electricity is no longer…
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Colonialism in green clothing – the dark side of the energy transition
Sociologist Miriam Lang criticizes a new colonialism in global energy policy. “A new colonialism is emerging in the name of the energy transition.” International corporations from the US, Europe, and China are securing access to strategic raw materials in the Global South. Officially, it’s about climate protection, but behind it lies an old logic of…