As of: March 8, 2024, 8:00 a.m
By: Christina Jachert-Maier
Comments
Press
Split
Josef Solleder wanted to start a pilot project.
© THOMAS PLETTENBERG
As a pioneer, Josef Solleder wanted to advance the energy transition with the first solar park in the landscape protection area.
The plant had already been ordered when further environmental regulations came into play.
Solleder does not see himself in a position to fulfill them.
He gives up - disappointed and with a lot of resentment towards the authorities.
Schaftlach
- As a private citizen, Josef Solleder wanted to fight through what would have been too big a plank for the Waakirchen-Schaftlach energy cooperative, which he co-founded in 2011: the first solar park in the landscape protection area.
In December 2023, after many conversations, on-site visits, correspondence and complex reports, he thought he was close to his goal and, given the long delivery times, ordered the system (we reported).
But instead of a quick approval for the facility in Point near Schaftlach, there were further requirements for the grazing concept and a rough correspondence with employees of the lower nature conservation authority at the district office.
Solleder has had enough.
“I wasn’t prepared for this last-second turnaround,” he says – and gives up on the project: “I canceled the system.”
“A declaration of bankruptcy”
The decision was difficult for him.
The passionate fighter for the energy transition actually wanted to use his private project to be a pioneer for further, larger open-space photovoltaic (PV) systems in the Miesbach district, then with citizen participation.
Solleder's bitter conclusion: “Instead, this project is a declaration of bankruptcy.
Everyone has lost here, climate protection as well as environmental protection.”
The general conditions seem optimal.
The meadow on which the PV modules were to be located belongs to Solleder himself, and he would also have been the only resident.
There is also a substation right next to it.
1,720 solar modules should produce an annual output of one million kilowatt hours, which corresponds to the annual requirements of around 250 four-person households.
The investment costs are around 700,000 euros.
Sheep should graze under the modules
The Waakirchner local council had already approved the solar park in December 2022.
A complex construction process began.
Solleder reports that he waited eight months for an environmental report to be completed.
Ultimately, from his perspective, all nature conservation concerns seemed to be taken into account.
Sheep were supposed to graze under the modules in summer; the grazing concept was in place.
Solleder expected approval in early March.
Instead, Solleder describes, the person in charge at the Lower Nature Conservation Authority made further demands regarding area compensation, mowing and the grazing concept, which he was unable to meet.
The authority also announced that an inspection would take place every three years.
“There will then be further requirements,” fears Solleder.
During the on-site visit, the person responsible from the office “simply didn’t listen”.
An unfriendly correspondence followed.
Solleder asked to speak to District Administrator Olaf von Löwis.
“But there was no offer of an appointment.”
The district office regrets the withdrawal
Solleder angrily pulled the ripcord.
The district office reacts with dismay.
We very much regret the withdrawal of the building application, assures spokeswoman Sabine Kirchmair.
It came as a surprise: “Actually, we were far from finished finding ways and solutions to implement the legal requirements.” The climate protection managers Veronika Halmbacher and Antonia Rüede-Passul tried to mediate.
“Unfortunately in vain,” says Kirchmair.
My news
Due to grease fire: Fire brigade evacuates “Tegernsee Fantastic” read
Singing gendarme and ambassador of the valley reading
Accommodation for refugees: SPD speaks of “rampant Florian principle” read
One valley, one Protestant parish: groundbreaking merger at Tegernseelesen
City council approves fourth technology: roll backwards for alpine village reading
Water vapor from the swimming pool triggers a false alarm
The procedure was only recently handed over from the local administration to the district office, said the spokeswoman.
Since the location is a meadow that is very worthy of protection, high legal requirements apply.
“But we would have been happy to solve the remaining problems – regulations on mowing – if the applicant had been willing to do so,” says Kirchmair.
Climate protection management wants to provide proactive support in the future
The district office has learned from the disaster: Climate protection management wants to try to proactively support the implementation of such measures in the future, even though the land use planning is the responsibility of the municipalities: “The energy transition is one of the most important goals for the Miesbach district.” The district office will report to the higher authorities that the legal requirements for the implementation of ground-mounted PV systems still caused some difficulties.
“It's a shame and annoying,” said Waakirchen's mayor Norbert Kerkel, commenting on the project's cancellation.
He could understand Solleder's reaction to the new requirements.
“You could have moved there.”