The moment of truth begins for Robert Habeck.
It's so easy to say that two percent of the country's land area has to be equipped with wind turbines.
There is no way around this if the energy requirement in Germany is to be covered in a climate-neutral manner and without nuclear power.
Habeck wants to get serious about it, but even before his inspection trip through the countries, he encounters the same hurdles that also stood in the way of the much-maligned grand coalition.
There are essentially two: the interests of the state governments and European legislation, over which Germany has only indirect influence.
In Bavaria, Habeck expects the toughest resistance, but it doesn't differ that much from that of other countries.
In all cases, it is about minimum distances, about nature conservation, about the landscape and the therefore complicated approval procedures.
resistance in Bavaria
In Bavaria, the distance rules are particularly strict, at least for people who don't have to fear any nuisance far away from the facilities.
Blanket distance rules can only be avoided if other standards ensure that life in the country is no less carefree.
A step in the right direction would also be to let the federal states and local authorities participate far more in value creation than before.
That alone will not be enough.
The gold standard that Germany has set itself for years to implement the Fauna-Flora-Habitat Directive has proved to be a boomerang in energy policy: nature conservation eats climate protection.
The necessary turnaround will not only make Red Milan suffer.
If Germany wants to switch to green hydrogen, the energy demand will increase so much that much more will be needed.
Quite apart from the fact that every wind turbine has to be backed up by a reliable source in order to ensure the supply.
Habeck will therefore often have to show his talent to be the best singer of the traffic light.