SPD with a frontal attack on the 10H rule of the CSU: "Söder's requirements are a pure bureaucracy monster"
Created: 12/30/2022, 8:06 p.m
By: Thomas Eldersch
Will Söder CSU's controversial 10H rule in Bavaria soon fall?
The citizens should decide.
© IMAGO/Frank Hoermann / SVEN SIMON
Bavaria is lagging behind when it comes to expanding wind power.
According to the SPD, this is also due to the controversial 10H rule.
This should now be overturned by the people.
Munich – Everyone is talking about climate change not only because of the climate activists stuck on numerous streets.
Even when you look out the window or at the thermometer, everyone quickly realizes that something is wrong.
Up to 21 degrees on New Year's Eve in Bavaria.
The warmest turn of the year since 1881. One way to counteract the rising temperatures is to turn away from fossil fuels and expand renewable energies.
Only in Bavaria does a law stand in the way of wind power.
SPD wants to initiate a referendum to abolish the 10H rule
The 10H rule, which was introduced in 2014 by the then Prime Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU), stipulated that the distance from wind turbines to the nearest housing estate should generally be at least ten times their height.
The rule has since been relaxed.
But: "The recent patchwork of the black-orange coalition is not enough," said SPD state leader Florian von Brunn on Friday in Munich.
That's why the Social Democrats want to overturn the 10H rule with a referendum.
For von Brunn, a complete abolition of the 10H rule is absolutely necessary.
The relaxation recently decided by the state government around Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) in the form of a few exceptions is not enough, the expansion of wind turbines will be further slowed down, since the federal wind expansion law will only really take effect in a few years.
His colleague from the Greens, parliamentary group leader Ludwig Hartmann, shared his criticism, but said: “The date for the 'referendum' on Bavaria's energy future has already been set.
The state elections on October 8, 2023 are the fastest route to a real energy transition in Bavaria.” Hartmann left open whether he would support the referendum.
Video: New wind turbine in Straubing
CSU counters SPD and speaks of “sudden increase in planning activity”
"But we don't have that much time for that," said von Brunn.
"Söder's conditions are a pure bureaucracy monster.
This means that we will not achieve the wind power targets in Bavaria.
That's why the referendum is so important.” You just have to delete all special regulations from the building code.
"Then wind turbines could again be approved according to the principles that apply in almost all of Germany without a blockade."
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The state government again rejected the criticism of the 10H amendment: "Since the change in the Bavarian building code came into force, we have seen a sudden increase in planning activities," said Building Minister Christian Bernreiter (CSU).
The amendment advances the expansion and ensures a "compatible balance between the expansion of renewable energies and the protection of nature and the landscape".
The SPD obviously did not understand the targeted approach and is splitting the country with the campaign tactics.
Long road to referendum
For a referendum to abolish the 10H rule, the SPD wants to first approach possible allies in the next few weeks.
"We would be happy if many other democratic parties and associations support the cause," said von Brunn.
It is conceivable for him to start collecting signatures in March or April - but the specific processes are still open.
It is therefore also unclear whether the referendum can be brought to a conclusion at all in this legislative period, i.e. before the state elections at the beginning of October.
In the first step, the initiators would first have to collect at least 25,000 signatures so that the referendum can be officially approved at all.
Then comes the biggest hurdle – at least ten percent of all those entitled to vote, around 950,000 citizens, have to submit their signatures in the town halls within 14 days.
Higher electricity prices due to sluggish expansion of power lines?
After that, the state government must issue a statement and the state parliament must decide whether to approve the referendum or not.
If this is not the case, there would be a referendum, in which the citizens then anchor the referendum as a law.
Von Brunn said that without a significant increase in wind power, Bavaria is also threatened with higher electricity prices.
The European Union is therefore examining higher electricity prices for southern Germany, since the construction of the large power lines is also lagging behind.
"This leads to problems and shortages in the power supply in Bavaria.
At the moment there is already a consultation process on the formation of electricity price zones in Germany.
We definitely don't want that."
(tel with dpa)
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