RWE AG Monday said it has given up plans to build a coal-fired power plant in Ensdorf, western Germany.
The plan for the construction of two blocks with a combined
capacity of 1.6 gigawatts failed in light of a residents' vote against
the project Sunday.
A majority of Ensdorf's residents voted against the project
on climate protection grounds, as the facility would emit too much
carbon dioxide, according to its opponents. The vote followed months of
lobbying against the coal-fired power plant.
Around 70% of the residents turned out to vote between Nov.
19 and Nov. 25. Around 70% of the votes cast were against the project.
"We've always said that we won't build (the power plant)
against the will of the population," said Stephanie Schunk, spokeswoman
for RWE's power generation unit RWE Power.