Caspian Energy (CE): Mr. Untersteller, how successful was 2012 for Baden-Württemberg in the field of energy achievements?

Franz Untersteller: We were able to put down some important markers again this year. One of these was to more than double the budgetary resources available for the implementation of the energy transition and for energy research in Baden-Württemberg. We have opened consultation procedures on a draft bill for a Climate Change Act in Baden-Württemberg and have also initiated a process of citizen participation and dialogue on an integrated energy and climate protection concept quite unlike any scheme anywhere else in Germany. We have also amended the State Planning Act, promulgated a wind power decree and published planning maps for wind turbines. What is more, we have also set up "energy competence centres" in each regional administrative authority and established a central "wind energy competence centre" at the State Institute for the Environment, Measurement and Nature Conservation in Baden-Württemberg (LUBW). The groundwork has therefore been laid for a significant increase in the number of wind turbines, at the very latest from 2014 onwards. After years of stasis, the new State Government has also helped to inject new momentum into the search for a final repository for nuclear waste. However, having said that, I am not at all happy about the way in which discussions have now got bogged down just when we thought we were on the home straight.