Debate about the 10H rule: Söder warns Habeck about "breach of word" and fears "wind shock"

Created: 05/17/2022, 07:49

By: Christian Deutschländer

Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder and Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck at a meeting in Munich in January.

© Tobias Hase/dpa

Final in the battle for 10H: Today Bavaria sends the new energy concept to the Federal Minister of Climate.

It becomes a showdown between Bavaria and Berlin.

Munich – In the old photos, they almost look like two travel buddies struggling through the swampy areas of the Amazon jungle: always ready to save each other from wandering spiders and constrictors.

Robert Habeck and Markus Söder only stood in front of a lush green wall in the State Chancellery.

This backdrop was just right to illustrate their commitment to renewable energies.

Beautiful pictures, really - but the impression of harmony was and remains deceptive.

It's been four months since the Green Federal Climate Minister's inaugural visit to the CSU Prime Minister in Munich.

It was the start of an attempt to find a solution to the bitter dispute over wind power.

These days will show whether it is enough for a compromise.

Possibly not.

Habeck demands more wind margins in Bavaria: Söder fears "wind shock"

Habeck demands more wind turbines in Germany, he wants priority areas on two percent of the state.

He and the Greens see the distance rule 10H, which only applies in Bavaria (ten times the height of the wind turbine as the minimum distance to the next residential building), as an obstacle.

Söder and his CSU want more wind power, but fear massive conflicts in all corners of the country over every single rotor.

Especially for Upper Bavaria, along the mountains, he gloomily predicts a "wind shock" if investors are allowed to set up masts largely without permission.

Söder also dampens the wind euphoria for Bavaria, sees much greater potential here for water and solar energy.

His problem: Habeck has the power to simply delete the 10H rule.

His officials are preparing to do just that.

A draft amendment to the Building Code states that the state opening clause will be deleted.

The draft has been circulating for a few days.

So far, the FDP in the Berlin traffic light has fallen on Habeck's arm with this plan because state-wide distance rules also apply in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Since the evening of the election, however, it has been very unlikely that the Liberals will continue to govern in North Rhine-Westphalia - so free rein for Habeck?

Energy debate: Söder promises 800 new wind turbines - but wants to stick to the 10H rule

Since the jungle photo, Söder has noticeably moved in terms of wind power.

In a very difficult session, he urged his CSU parliamentary group in the state parliament to support a softening of 10H.

A distance of only 1000 meters should apply on railway lines, motorways, in forests, on industrial ancillary systems and when replacing existing systems.

Söder promises 800 new wind turbines and reaching Habeck's two percent target, but he officially sticks to 10H.

The CSU boss wants to embed this in a basic energy concept and wants to propose an overall package to the Greens.

The draft is 30 pages thick, and he wants to send it to Habeck today.

It also deals with the expansion of hydropower, more photovoltaic and biogas plants, as well as the temporary continued operation of several nuclear power plants.

"Our goal is: As much as possible, but with and not against the citizens - otherwise many projects will fail," says Söder.

Habeck not satisfied with CSU proposals - Söder warns of "breach of word"

He complains that Habeck is too fixated on the wind and generally sees the republic from the perspective of the northern countries near the coast.

Habeck lets Bayern fidget again.

"That won't be enough," he said recently about the 10H compromise, "but you can see that there is a dynamic going on."

A political poker game - and the CSU is in a worse position.

Söder can be seen on Monday when he is asked about a meeting of the party executive on Habeck.

On the one hand, he flatters the Vice Chancellor, certifying that the Greens have "really not badly performed".

On the other hand, he openly warns Habeck against a "breach of word" with the wind.

During his visit to Munich he had "given the promise" that "10H does not have to fall automatically", that "one does not ignore Bavaria".