Kretschmann: Plans for wind power expansion ready by Easter

Created: 01/18/2022 17:22

Winfried Kretschmann answers questions from journalists at a press conference.

© Bernd Weißbrod/dpa/archive image

Baden-Württemberg's Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann (Greens) wants to have clarity about the measures for a faster expansion of wind power in the south-west in three months at the latest.

Next week there will be a meeting with Climate and Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) on the subject, Kretschmann announced on Tuesday in Stuttgart.

Since Habeck is also planning a law to accelerate the expansion of wind power, the federal and state governments must coordinate.

Stuttgart - He hopes "that we will be clear by Easter at the latest what is being done, what is left and what is being set up."

The head of government welcomed the fact that the coalition partner, the CDU, “wants to step up the pace massively”.

How CDU faction leader Manuel Hagel came up with the fact that the period from planning to the construction of a wind farm could be reduced to one year, he could not say anything about that.

So far, the realization of a wind farm takes about six to seven years.

Kretschmann wants to at least halve the period.

But: "We are in complete agreement on the matter," he said, referring to the CDU.

The fight against climate change urgently needs to be accelerated.

"Everyone is green now," said Kretschmann.

That is also important, "because you can't do it alone".

Justice Minister Marion Gentges (CDU) remarked at the time of the infrastructure project: "We are simply too slow there." The 2022 budget already provided the funds to create a Senate specializing in infrastructure at the Administrative Court in Mannheim.

The CDU wants to add two more here in order to make progress on wind power.

more on the subject

CDU: More ambition in wind power and puts Greens under pressure

CDU parliamentary group wants significantly more speed in wind power expansion

CDU puts green coalition partners under pressure to act

The green-black coalition has set itself the goal of building 1,000 wind turbines.

According to the Ministry of the Environment, 755 systems were in operation in the southwest at the end of September 2021, just 24 more than in the previous year.

For comparison: In Lower Saxony there are more than 6350 wind turbines.

A "task force" made up of experts and heads of department is tasked with shortening the planning process to at least three and a half years.

So there should be simpler approval procedures and an award offensive for the leasing of areas in the state forest.

The country also wants to shorten the legal channels.

The number of appeals against approval notices is to be reduced and objection procedures are to be abolished under certain circumstances.

dpa