This means “staircase wit,” or a story with peculiar irony.

Like the latest German Green Treppenwitz: When two nuclear power plants are allowed to continue running but not allowed to produce electricity.

Germany to keep two nuclear plants available as a backup and burn coal as it faces an energy crisis brought on by war and climate change – The German government announced its plans to keep the Isar 2 and Neckarwestheim nuclear power plants, both of which are located in the southern part of the country, on a kind of backup status, available only if the country has no other option.