The state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, has favourable conditions for the operation of local and long-distance energy networks on the basis of power-heat coupling. If facilities were constructed to provide full geographic coverage, it has been estimated that 30,000 new jobs would be created for the following 15 years. By comparison, in 1996 hard coal mining employs 90,000 people, and by the year 2005 the number will fall to 45,000. The time scale would enable structural change in the old mining regions to be carried out in a socially and regionally acceptable manner. (The Environment Ministry also states that this will produce an increase in energy efficiency of 40% and a reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 40%.). A general energy revolution, involving the comprehensive development and operation of regenerative energy supplies, is forecasted to provide a net employment effect of 90,000 to 125,000 permanent jobs over a period of 15 to 20 years.