As of: January 29, 2024, 4:15 p.m
By: Andreas Höger, Laura Forster
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Climate and environmental protection can be so beautiful: wind turbines are considered sustainable.
© Patrick Pleul/DPA (symbol image)
The rush was enormous: on the first day, the crowdfunding for the citizens' wind farm in the Hofoldinger Forest reached the targeted goal of six million euros.
Only citizens from Otterfing, Sauerlach and Aying were authorized to sign.
When Aying's mayor Peter Wagner (CSU) opened the Bürgerwind Hofoldinger Forst GmbH & Co. KG website for the first time this morning, he had to look twice.
The green bar indicated that the citizens of the participating municipalities of Aying, Sauerlach and Otterfing had already financed more than two of the necessary six million euros.
“We were literally overrun,” says managing director Martin Sterflinger.
Locals were able to contribute between 500 and 25,000 euros
Crowdfunding for the three planned wind turbines in the Hofoldinger Forest started on Monday, which locals were able to support with a ten-year loan of at least 500 and a maximum of 25,000 euros.
In return, they receive an annual interest rate of at least six percent.
“The fact that we had the money together after less than two and a half hours is crazy,” says Wagner, who also invested quickly.
Unfortunately, “it is too late” for all citizens who have not managed to take part by 12:24 p.m.
Citizens should also benefit from wind turbines
The great demand shows that citizens are behind the project, says Wagner.
“We have been talking about this for over ten years and it was clear from the start that there should be citizen participation.
If you have to look at the wind turbines, then you should also feel something in your wallet.”