Was post Japan Fukushima incident that Germany did this as a knee-jerk reaction. Of course, not factoring in the enviromental aspect. Then the big factor that

Was post Japan Fukushima incident that Germany did this as a knee-jerk reaction. Of course, not factoring in the enviromental aspect. Then the big factor that most of Germanies coal electric generating plants sit on the border of other countries, makeing their enviroment/air quality at the mercy of the wind. An often overlooked aspect in air quality in some places - change of wind and they get somebody else's dirty air and tips the balance triggering the EU to fine the place with the dirty air and overlook the source that may of been within limits (just) but combined with another source that is within limits, tips the balance and you get air quality that's classed as unfit and bad. So for many neibours, thank you Germany for your pollution so you can carry on burning your toxic coal at any excuse.