The conclusion of the proceedings was preceded by a tough five-year legal and political struggle between the project sponsor and opponents of the 1.2 billion euro project, in which the opponents - initially starting from a seemingly hopeless position - ultimately gained and retained the upper hand.
Lawyer Carl Christian Müller represented some of the plaintiffs in the approval proceedings, including a member of the Bundestag from the region, a well-known entrepreneur from Mainz and a member of the Rhineland-Palatinate state parliament. In addition, he advised the city council factions of Bündnis 90/DIE GRÜNEN in the cities of Mainz and Wiesbaden on the municipal law issues associated with the project.
Furthermore, he coordinated the law firms appointed on the opposing side in the approval procedures for the Alliance for a Coal-Free Region Mainz Wiesbaden - an association of citizens' initiatives and other institutions operating against the coal-fired power plant, including the cities of Mainz and Wiesbaden, other surrounding municipalities and the regional representatives of churches, trade unions and environmental protection associations. Finally, Carl Christian Müller also advised the opposing side comprehensively on the communication strategy and public relations work.