Several new solar fields - including large systems - could be built in western Weilheim in the near future.
Some city council members are therefore alarmed.
Because the prices called for, it is said, would mean the end for some agriculture.
Weilheim – New solar fields on Weilheimer Flur?
Almost all members of the city council are fundamentally positive.
The tenor was that more such systems were needed for the energy transition.
The vast majority also consider the new project, which the city council was specifically discussing last week, to be correct and appropriate: The owner of an area on Altvaterstraße in Lichtenau that was previously used as grassland would like to have an open-space photovoltaic system with an output of build approx. 750 kWp.
This is a comparatively small facility.
According to the city building authority, the applicant wants to use sheep or chickens for grazing.
The planning application was approved by a majority
This application was already presented to the city council's building committee last July, but was postponed there together with a few other solar park inquiries from other developers for the Lichtenau area.
It was said at the time that suitable feed-in points would first have to be determined with the network operator.
While the larger projects still had problems in this regard and long lines would have to be laid in the direction of Raisting, the owner on Altvaterstraße could connect to the power grid directly at his farm, said Manfred Stork, head of construction management, in the city council.
Thus, nothing stands in the way of this system for most council members.
The building application and at the same time an early change to the land use plan that was separate from the other properties was approved by a majority.
Before that, however, there was an unusually long, vehement discussion and very concerned voices - not because of the small project on Altvaterstraße, but because of possible follow-up projects.
"For the farmers who really still farm", the increase in solar fields "now threatens their existence", Romana Asam (FW) opened the round.
She knows that an investor is offering landowners in western Weilheim 4,000 euros and more per hectare as a lease.
Other farmers would be deprived of land because they could not keep up.
“Solar activism is destroying agriculture,” concludes Asam, who is a farmer herself.
Stirrup holder for investor?
"Existence threats are already there," said Rupert Pentenrieder (BfW), who acts as a consultant for agriculture on the city council.
He noticed that an investor was looking for around 50 hectares for solar fields in western Weilheim.
According to Pentenrieder, the prices offered would have massive consequences: sooner or later, three out of four farms would have to give up in this area because they were dependent on leasing land for their cattle at lower prices.
"We have to put a stop to that, we must not be a stirrup holder for an investor," appealed the BfW representative: "We need the PV systems, but they must not all be in one area."
Another 25 hectares needed to meet electricity needs
"When I hear such sums, it's no longer a local investor, but a locust," added Stefan Zirngibl (CSU).
Because the construction of large solar fields in Lichtenau could possibly also be legally enforceable as a result, he could not agree to the small system either.
The decision lies with the city in each individual case, said head of building administration Stork, "we can still say no to the projects that have already been requested".
For Stefan Emeis (Greens), solar modules are also compatible with the green economy: "It's not an either-or, but a both-and." And his party friend Karl-Heinz Grehl warned against "creating a horror scenario": "There is still " there are hardly any open space systems" in Weilheim, according to the energy officer of the city council - "if we have ten such systems, then we can continue to discuss".
There are currently around six hectares of solar fields in Weilheim, said Andreas Scharli from the "Energiewende Oberland" in November in the city council (we reported).
Another 25 hectares are needed to cover Weilheim's electricity needs from local renewable sources.
SPD representative Horst Martin now suggested setting an upper limit for open-space photovoltaics based on this magnitude.
Of course, no decision was made at this meeting.
"It's now only about the area on Altvaterstraße," warned Mayor Markus Loth (BfW).
This project was ultimately approved.
Romana Asam, Susann Enders (both FW), Rüdiger Imgart (AfD), Rupert Pentenrieder (BfW) and Stefan Zirngibl (CSU) voted against.
