Status: 4/4/2022 1:36 p.m
After years of disputes about species protection and the expansion of wind power, the environment and economic ministries have reached an agreement. The expansion of wind power is now to be accelerated – in a way that is compatible with nature conservation.
The Federal Government has agreed on key points for the accelerated expansion of onshore wind energy in a way that is compatible with nature conservation. The Environment and Economic Ministries have agreed on the cornerstones of a nature-friendly expansion of wind energy on land.
“The brake pads are gone,” said Environment Minister Steffi Lemke. Economics Minister Robert Habeck declared that a knot had been cut through. It is possible to designate new areas for wind power. Species protection and wind power will be “allies” and not opponents in the future.
According to the agreement, for the first time there should be nationwide uniform standards for the testing and approval of wind turbines with a view to endangering birds. In addition, wind turbines should generally also be permitted in landscape protection areas in the future.
At a press conference, Lemke and Habeck presented the key issues paper.
Image: dpa
Species-specific “taboo areas” are defined
In addition, the Federal Nature Conservation Act is to be supplemented with a final list of endangered breeding bird species for which wind turbines pose a risk of collision. In addition, species-specific “taboo areas” with a precisely defined distance from the breeding site and an additional “test area” are specified. Further away, approval authorities no longer have to check a hazard.
For years, the two ministries had been arguing about how the expansion of wind power could be better reconciled with nature and species conservation. More land is needed to expand wind power. So far, species protection reasons have often led to wind turbines not being approved.
Less dependent on imports from Russia
The faster expansion of wind power on land plays a key role for the federal government to achieve climate protection goals and become less dependent on fossil energy imports from Russia.
Lemke said that the more rapid expansion of renewable energies had become more urgent as a result of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.