Green Power Sinks German Town
TO Staufen, in the Black Forest. And we’d best hurry because it’s sinking.
The German town is subsiding after authorities drilled underground to harness “green” energy as part of an innovative geothermal power plan.
The contractors drilled down 460ft. they would extract heat. But now large cracks have appeared in buildings. And the town centre has subsided about a third of an inch.
The baroque town hall, the main church, two schools and more than 64 other buildings in the historic centre were severely affected. Experts said buildings in the outer part of the town had risen by a similar amount.
Says Michael Benitz, the mayor: “Will the earth continue to sink? If it stops now, then we will have got away lightly. But if it continues, it could turn out to be quite bad.”
Posted: 31st, March 2008 | In: Broadsheets Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
