I often wondered why Germany is a world leader in solar photovoltaic production and installations. After all, it’s a country that doesn’t get much sunlight, right? Then I learned about Bitterfeld, an industrial city in the former East Germany.

Bitterfeld is an ecological wasteland: a city where its former communist leaders paid no heed to the dangers of pollution. Instead, the state planning committee would deliberately poison rivers and streams to cash in on pollution fines.

With that kind of shocking, wanton destruction going on in the name of energy independence, I have a better understanding of Germany’s strong commitment to clean energy.