But the gas infrastructure synergizes extremely well with a shift to a hydrogen based energy economy, as is not just the goal in Germany, but pretty much an EU wide ambition [0].

It has nothing to do with the German nuclear phase-out that started in the early 2000s, just like European reliance on Russian resources it not anything new, nor is it bound to change, it's the consequence of geographical proximity and thus realpolitik.

Particularly considering the alternatives: LNG shipped from the US to Europe in tankers is an net-energy negative. It would be a pointless and expensive exercise of creating even more pollution all for the sake of satisfying US foreign policy ambitions to antagonize Russia and keep it as separated from the EU as possible.

[0] https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy/news/dutch-pin-hopes...

Look at the numbers: https://www.cleanenergywire.org/factsheets/germanys-energy-c...

Yeah, there is a slight increase in natural gas over the years (with large fluctuations), while coal is in slight decline. By far the largest share of the nuclear phaseout has been replacing it with renewables.

One can discuss the pros and cons of german energy politics (of which there are both plenty), but that should start by knowing the facts.

[1] https://i.imgur.com/KgcCyWu.png

[2] https://energy-charts.info/charts/energy/chart.htm?l=en&c=DE...