I just received an invitation: "Shaping renewable energy together in the Leipzig district." The networking meeting takes place on October 28 in Cröbern, near Lake Störmthal. Daniel Hirsch sent out the invite. We will connect, tour local energy facilities, and discuss joint projects.
What makes this especially exciting: Leipzig now has its own energy cooperative (EGL eG). It is closely linked to the BUND Saxony regional association, with Dr. Friederike Frieler serving as chair of the supervisory board. I see this as a hugely positive step. Energy is arguably the biggest challenge of our time.
Modern life relies entirely on a constant supply of energy. We have grown so used to it that we rarely question it. I am completely aligned with Nate Hagens here. On his platform, The Great Simplification, he talks about the "Carbon Pulse". He warns that modern society ignores a critical reality: our institutions, our democracy, and our progress—from AI to mobility—depend entirely on cheap fossil fuels. And cheap oil—reserves that are easy to extract with little energy expenditure—will soon run out.
That is why energy generation is a matter of survival for our society. First, energy must become renewable, driven mainly by wind and solar. Second—and just as importantly—it must be decentralized.
Energy belongs in the hands of the people on the ground. One of our biggest problems is that oil sits in the hands of a few multinational corporations. Again and again, that drags us into geopolitical conflicts, especially in the Middle East. We have to get away from that.
That’s why we need energy cooperatives. I see a direct connection here to the CSX model (“Community Supported Economy”). Dr. Hannah Heller from the Myzelium network fittingly calls it “gemeinschaftsgetragenes Wirtschaften”—an economy carried by the community. Just as in agriculture, we now urgently need “Community Supported Energy”.
If we don’t organize our energy together, we’ll slide deeper and deeper into dependency. We lose our say and our influence on political decisions. That’s why I’m really looking forward to the exchange on October 28—and I’ll report on it in detail.
What do you take away from this thought?
Thank you. Every answer fits – take it with you into your day. Would you like to share something yourself?
