As of: February 20, 2024, 7:08 a.m
By: Andreas Höger
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Wind turbine locations in the state forest are now generally advertised.
450 citizens lend their money to Windkraft-GmbH Build three more wind turbines with Brunnthal?
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Around 450 citizens from Otterfing, Sauerlach and Aying are participating in the small citizen wind farm in the Hofoldinger Forest with small loans amounting to almost six million euros.
Now Brunnthal, which left the alliance in 2021, is again knocking on the neighboring communities' wind energy GmbH.
Otterfing
– Almost all promises have already been fulfilled: around 450 Otterfinger, Sauerlacher and Ayinger transferred almost six million euros as a loan (with a ten-year term) to Bürgerwind Hofoldinger Forst GmbH & Co. KG.
They took advantage of the opportunity to participate in the joint project of their home communities and can expect an annual return of at least six percent.
To the surprise of everyone involved, the targeted crowdfunding amount was reached after just a few hours.
As GmbH managing director Martin Sterflinger explained when asked, the vast majority of them deposited significantly more than the minimum amount of 500 euros.
Mathematically, each lender provides 13,000 euros.
Even representatives of the GLS bank, which organized the crowdfunding and supported the GmbH with its own loan of 20 million euros, could hardly believe how quickly the citizens subscribed.
“They assured us that they had never experienced anything like this before,” says Sterflinger.
Otterfing's mayor Michael Falkenhahn, currently chairman of the GmbH supervisory board, knows of citizens who wanted to use the lunch break that Monday to secure a stake: "But by then it was already over."
Only community residents were allowed to take part.
“We only had to sort out three or four 'free riders' from other communities,” explains the managing director.
Citizen participation is a cornerstone of the project, the total cost of which is estimated at 26.73 million euros.
The three wind turbines in the Hofoldinger Forest, one in each community, are scheduled to go online in 2025.
Originally, the community of Brunnthal was the fourth in the community wind turbine alliance.
Three years ago, a narrow majority in the local council forced the exit; opponents of wind power argued particularly with the protection of the natural forest forest.
Now the wind has changed again.
Brunnthal signaled to the GmbH that he wanted to get back into the wind power business.
According to Sterflinger, the three GmbH communities agreed not to block this wish of the ex-partner.
“We certainly won't be reopening our three-party GmbH,” emphasized Falkenhahn, “Brunnthal's entry must be on its own path.” It would be conceivable to set up a new KG with Brunnthal with four partners and to project three wind turbines again .
“Technically, this would be possible without any problems in the Hofoldinger Forest,” believes Sterflinger.
However, the old Brunnthal site security agreement with the state forests was dissolved after the withdrawal.
“And the state forests have now changed their procurement practices,” says Falkenhahn.
Possible wind power sites in the state forest are now being advertised to the highest bid, which opens the door for private investors.
Sterflinger is currently checking whether the community alliance in the Hofoldinger Forest still enjoys a privilege here.
The previously planned Brunnthal location has at least already been pre-investigated.
Since three wind turbines are targeted, more detailed reports would be required for two additional locations.
It shouldn't be as complex as the locations in Otterfing, Sauerlach and Aying.
Falkenhahn: “The legislature has recently simplified these procedures.”
By the way: Everything from the region is also available in our regular Holzkirchen newsletter.