Jochen Flasbarth, President of Germany's Federal Environment Agency and an architect of that country's green energy revolution, will address political leaders, the public and the press during a visit to Vermont October 10-12, 2011. Accompanying Flasbarth will be Arne Jungjohann, Director for the Environment Program in the Washington, DC office of the Heinrich Böll Foundation which is affiliated with the German Green Party. The German delegation speak in Brattleboro on October 10th, at 7:00 pm in the parlor of the Centre Congregational Church, 193 Main Street. This event is free and open to the public. They will also be meeting with Governor Peter Shumlin, Windham Count legislators, and will speak in Montpelier. Germany has chosen to shut its nuclear power program by 2022. Germany's Federal Environment Agency is similar to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Flasbarth will address Germany's decision to shut down the remaining nine of its once 17 operating nuclear reactors by 2022, and how the country plans to transition toward 40% renewable energy by 2020 and to 80% to 100% renewable energy by 2050. Jungjohann will present the transatlantic connections between Germany and Vermont and the opportunities to model Germany's green energy plan, which will create new jobs while removing the threat posed by operating reactors. "To tackle climate change in an adequate way, the power sector will have to be completely decarbonized by 2050," said Jochen Flasbarth. "Achieving 100% renewable energy is the only way to reduce greenhouse gases to zero in our power sectors." Technically this is feasible and possible, according to studies by Flasbarth's agency. If managed properly, say Flasbarth, "secure supply at all times can be guaranteed with renewable energy. The earlier this decision is made, the more time there will be for technical and social adaptation." The Flasbarth visit was initiated by Beyond Nuclear, a national safe energy group, and is being organized by a regional coalition of activist groups working to shut down the Vermont Yankee reactor. "Our national political leaders continue to cling to the dirty, dangerous dinosaurs of nuclear, coal and oil while squandering the chance to lead in clean energy technologies," said Linda Gunter, International Specialist for Beyond Nuclear and a coordinator for the German tour. "Vermont's enlightened decision to shut its reactor and move to renewables means the state could mirror the German energy roadmap in many ways. We see this tour as a great opportunity to inform and inspire Vermonters to draw lessons from the German example."

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