Wind power in the Hofoldinger Forest: Public participation starts in 2023

Created: 03/25/2022, 16:00

By: Andreas Höger

A windmill stands in the forest: like here in Augsberg (Upper Palatinate), three community wind turbines in the Hofoldinger Forest are to produce green energy by 2024.

© Nicolas Armer/dpa

If everything goes according to plan, big things will happen in the Hofoldinger Forest in two years.

Otterfing, Aying and Sauerlach want to set up a GmbH in April to build three wind turbines along the autobahn.

Planning permission is expected in early 2023.

Then it will have to be clarified how the GmbH communities want to collect the two million euros in participation money from their citizens.

Otterfing

– The supervisory board of Windenergie Hofoldinger Forst GmbH has been appointed – although the GmbH does not yet officially exist.

So far, the three municipalities of Otterfing, Aying and Sauerlach have only been organized as a working group (ArGe).

"But that will change soon," says Otterfing's mayor, Michael Falkenhahn.

We are waiting for the signal from an auditor who will calculate the three available wind yield reports again.

"A maximum security buffer," says Falkenhahn, "all three reports look very positive."

As soon as the examiner's e-mail arrives, the GmbH is to be founded, which acts as the legal successor to the ArGe.

Shareholders are only the three municipalities;

the previously leading ArGe member of the district of Munich is leaving, the ArGe member of the district of Miesbach contributes its part of the pre-financing either as a silent partner or a limited partner.

Approval process takes six to nine months

The GmbH then has no time to lose: all documents should be complete by July at the latest in order to start the approval process in accordance with the Federal Immission Control Act (BImSCHG) in the two district offices.

"We were told that this would take six to nine months," says Falkenhahn.

Above all, the effects of the shadows cast by rotors and the soil quality of the three locations are checked.

The communities have already decided on a manufacturer - a condition because the approval process is specifically tailored to a wind turbine model.

"There is a binding offer," says Falkenhahn, "the costs remain within our calculations."

As soon as the building permits arrive in spring 2023, the GmbH municipalities will have to determine how they will organize their citizen participation.

Below the GmbH, a limited partnership (KG) will probably be drawn in (for the district of Miesbach).

The deposits of Otterfingen citizens could be collected by a newly founded cooperative, which is also anchored as a shareholder of the KG.

According to the financial plan, the citizens' shares should cover 30 percent of the total costs of 18 million euros, which would be around two million euros for each municipality.

One must discuss upper and lower limits of the holdings, says Falkenhahn.

What is certain is that initially only Otterfinger can subscribe to shares.

"Only if the volume is not reached do you have to see who else is allowed to participate."

Municipal council appoints three supervisory board members for GmbH

The personal details of the Supervisory Board were discussed in advance in a non-public meeting.

And even if there was an unexpected competitor, it all happened as planned: the municipality of Otterfing has sent Mayor Michael Falkenhahn (SPD) as well as municipal councilors Thomas Hogger (Greens) and Andreas Eichhorn (SPD) to the yet to be founded Windenergie Hofoldinger Forst GmbH.

Second Mayor Gerhard Heimerer (CSU) and Councilors Stefan Burgmayr (FLO) and Robert Schüßlbauer (CSU) act as deputies.

Josef Killer (FWG), who is rather critical of the municipality's commitment to wind power, initially doubted whether it was a good idea for municipal councils to appoint a supervisory body.

He sensed self-consciousness.

"We know what we experienced in the district with the district savings bank." The selection of candidates in advance also showed "that I am not wanted in such a body".

Roberto Sottanelli (SPD) noted that the candidates bring expertise.

Hogger led three research projects at BMW, while Burgmayr gained experience in the solar industry.

Eichhorn and Schüßlbauer contribute commercial know-how.

At Burgmayr's direct request, Killer applied, which required a secret written ballot.

Each municipal council had two votes, since the mayor is appointed by office.

Killer received three votes, Hogger received 13, and Eichhorn received 12 votes.

The deputies were elected by show of hands and unanimously, but Killer no longer stood.

The fact that the supervisory board of the GmbH consists exclusively of mayors and local councilors is the right way for Falkenhahn.

Many important decisions have to be made in the sensitive initial phase, "then the project must be completely in the hands of the municipalities".

It is essential to avoid "bringing in someone who may be working against it".

The Ayinger municipal council also determined its wind energy supervisory boards.

Mayors Peter Wagner (CSU), Martin Stadler (CSU) and Andreas Wolf (Greens) were elected.

Sauerlach elects its representatives on March 24th in the main committee.

You can read here how the project was discussed in the district council.