In one tiny German town, nobody worries about energy bills

By FRANK JORDANS
Associated Press

FELDHEIM, Germany (AP) — While most Europeans are watching their energy bills soar as the war in Ukraine drives up the price of natural gas, oil and electricity, the tiny German town of Feldheim has been energy self-sufficient for a decade. The village of 130 people built solar panels and wind turbines and found other ways to generate its own eco-friendly energy to keep the lights on and homes warm. The success in Feldheim contrasts with Germany’s top-down approach toward ending fossil fuel use and achieving energy independence. Europe’s biggest economy still relies heavily on energy imports. More than half of Germany’s gross power production in the first half of this year was from fossil fuels and nuclear power.