Saxony: Counties and cities receive funding for energy transition

Saxon counties and independent cities are to receive one million euros each on Friday as funding for the energy transition. The so-called "climate millions" are allocations for investments in the areas of climate protection, energy transition and climate adaptation, announced the Saxon Energy Ministry on Wednesday in Dresden. The basis is the law on the municipal energy and climate budget (KomEKG), which was passed last December by the state parliament.

The money could be financed investments, in particular, in facilities for the production and use of renewable energy, in climate-friendly mobility, in the field of energy saving and energy efficiency or in the adaptation to the climate crisis. Next year, the counties and independent cities are also to receive funding.

"The climate millions are a simple, transparent and widely usable instrument," said Saxony's energy minister Wolfram Günther (Greens). He said they are designed so that counties and independent cities can leverage their projects by combining the Energy Ministry's allocation with other funds. In addition, the "climate millions" are an important instrument for making the everyday living environment more sustainable and future-proof, Günther emphasized. The counties and the independent cities can decide for themselves what is promoted and what is not.

Furthermore, the "climate millions" could be used flexibly and could also be passed on to municipalities and municipal companies in a transparent procedure. According to the ministry, measures for the preparation and support of the investments or for the expansion of knowledge and knowledge transfer may also be financed with the allocation and citizen participation offers supported. A combination with third-party funds is also permitted. This should enable municipalities to raise further funds for their projects on the ground.