Economics Minister Habeck wants to massively promote wind power - Söder warns against too high hopes

Created: 04/05/2022, 08:57

By: Mike Schier, Christian Deutschlaender

Hubert Aiwanger wants to have 600 new wind turbines installed in Bavaria by 2032.

(Iconic image) © Nicolas Armer/dpa

The showdown over Bavaria's wind power rules is entering the next round.

In the future, wind turbines should generally also be permitted in landscape protection areas.

Berlin – A deal between two Green Ministers is intended to boost wind power.

Robert Habeck (climate) and Steffi Lemke (environment) have presented key points on how wind energy can be expanded on land much faster, but still in a way that is compatible with nature conservation.

Among other things, for the first time there should be nationwide uniform standards for the testing and approval of wind turbines with a view to endangering birds.

In addition, the systems should generally also be permitted in landscape protection areas.

The Federal Nature Conservation Act is to be supplemented by a final list of endangered breeding bird species for which wind turbines pose a risk of collision - such as white-tailed eagles, golden eagles and red kites.

In addition, species-specific "taboo areas" with a precisely defined distance from the breeding site and an additional "test area" are specified.

Further away, authorities no longer have to check a hazard.

Lemke also promises a species protection program fed from a fund, in which the operators also participate.

The federal government is contributing 80 million euros.

Replacing existing wind turbines with new ones should also be made easier.

"The brake pads are gone," said Lemke, the "tension" between climate protection and nature conservation has been resolved.

Habeck has probably not overturned the 10H rule - Söder is sticking to it

The fact that environment and economics ministers appear together is a novelty, according to Green party circles.

Environmental organizations reacted differently.

The German Environmental Aid welcomed the agreement, but at the same time warned against "technical errors".

For example, species protection requirements should also apply to migratory birds and bats.

The Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation called for a stronger focus on other areas of renewable energies.

This includes a solar obligation on roofs.

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The showdown over Bavaria's wind power rules continues - Habeck has probably not yet overturned the 10H rule and overwritten it with federal rules.

Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) therefore announces that the Free State will stick to the 10H distances ("citizen-friendly") and only create exceptions.

Which CSU and FW want to regulate after Easter.

"500 plus x" new wind turbines are the declared goal, Söder warns at the same time against too high hopes in wind energy in the south.

Easter package could bring a "real solar power booster for Bavaria".

He may focus more on photovoltaics, gas fracking and extending the life of five nuclear power plants by more than five years.

In addition, Söder is promoting a gas pipeline from Trieste to transport liquefied gas from the Arab states to Bavaria.

His travel plans fit in with this: Söder is on his way to Abu Dhabi and Riyadh next week.

Bavaria's Green parliamentary group leader, Ludwig Hartmann, points out that the federal government does not only have plans for wind energy.

The "Easter package" that Berlin is planning could bring a "real solar power booster for Bavaria" "With a doubling of the feed-in tariff for roof systems up to 10 kW, with significant improvements for self-generation of electricity from the roof, tenant electricity models, community wind farms and much more. The good thing is that everyone can take part – for independence in terms of energy policy and stable electricity prices.

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