It was the new German government’s first major appearance before the energy industry: At Wednesday’s congress of the German Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW), Economics Minister Katherina Reiche (CDU), Environment Minister Carsten Schneider (SPD) and SPD parliamentary group leader Matthias Miersch presented their political program in immediate succession – and despite the emphasis on common ground, they also revealed differences, for example regarding the pace of future expansion of renewable energies.