Germany has agreed to compensation of about 40 billion euros ($45 billion) for affected regions, workers and companies as part of plans to end its use of brown coal in power plants by 2038, Economy Minister Peter Altmaier said on Thursday. Germany’s Finance Minister Olaf Scholz, Economy and Energy Minister Peter Altmaier and Environment Minister Svenja Schulze hold a news conference after Chancellor Angela Merkel and state premiers reached an agreement with the regions most affected by the planned brown coal exit, in Berlin, Germany, January 16, 2020. The plans are part of measures aimed at cutting greenhouse gas emissions in Europe’s largest economy by 2030 to 55% of their 1990 levels. Brown coal, or lignite, is considered the most polluting type of coal, partly because its low heat content means more must be burned. In a deal reached in overnight talks which stretched […]