As of: March 5, 2024, 9:18 a.m
By: Ulrike Osman
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A wind farm with four wind turbines like the one here in Fuchstal would have space in the special area on the eastern edge of the municipality of Geltendorf.
© Engineering office Sing
A special area for wind power could be designated in a forest area on the eastern edge of the municipality of Geltendorf.
Corresponding considerations for a wind farm with citizen participation were recently presented at a special meeting of the local council.
Geltendorf - Around 40 listeners came to the hall of the community center - where the meeting had been moved due to the expected public interest - to follow the remarks by planner Robert Sing.
“We are currently in the process of securing the property,” explained Sing. Preliminary discussions have taken place with the landowners – the first step in land-use planning.
Wind turbines for Geltendorf: Mayor relies on “maximum transparency”
The areas in question are located in a forest area north of State Road 2054. According to Sing, a maximum of four wind turbines with a total height (including rotor diameter) of 250 meters could be built here.
The distance to the nearest residential development - the Geltendorf district of Hausen and Eismerszell, which belongs to the municipality of Moorenweis - is more than the prescribed 1,000 meters.
Mayor Robert Sedlmayr (ÖDP) promised “maximum transparency”.
He also wants to present the project at citizens' meetings and advocated entering into the public debate.
There is enough space “to communicate concerns and fears.”
During public participation, every citizen has the opportunity to comment.
At the same time, Sedlmayr made it clear why the community is actively addressing the issue.
The aim is to prevent foreign investors from snatching up the space.
“It’s important to keep the reins in your hand,” said the town hall boss.
Since wind turbines in forest areas at a distance of 1,000 meters from the nearest residential development are privileged building projects, every investor would otherwise be entitled to a building permit, provided there are no public concerns to the contrary.
The community and citizens would then not have the opportunity to contribute financially.
With citizen participation based on the Fuchstal model
But that should be possible in Geltendorf.
Following the example of the municipality of Fuchstal, a GmbH & Co. KG is to be founded in which the landowners, the local community, its citizens and the initiators can participate with investments starting from 5,000 euros.
Anyone who would like to invest less can participate through a cooperative model, explained Sing. With him, the community has brought a proven expert in wind power planning on board.
Sing has already planned systems in Lamerdingen and Berg as well as the seven systems in Fuchstal, managed and monitored the construction and implemented the associated citizen participation models.
The building control process is likely to take the rest of the year.
This is followed by an economic feasibility analysis, wind measurements lasting at least a year and studies on noise emissions, shadows and species protection.
If all of this turns out to be positive, the building permit could be available in the first half of 2026, says Sing. The construction and start of operation of the systems is not expected until 2027 at the earliest.
The local council is unanimously behind the project, which had not been discussed publicly in advance.
The audience also applauded Sing's remarks.