Energy policy in Bavaria: Markus Söder writes a letter to Robert Habeck – Bavaria

In the first week of June, the draft law became known, with which Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) wants to oblige Prime Minister Markus Söder and the state government to designate 1.8 percent of Bavaria’s state area for wind turbines within ten years. The outrage was huge in the CSU. “Politics with a crowbar”, “bureaucratic monster”, “perfidious legal technique” and “brutal sanctions mechanism” were the words of Building Minister Christian Bernreiter. Should Habeck’s legal plans become reality, the new Bavarian wind power concept and the 800 new wind turbines that should make it possible would be waste. Habeck knows that, after all, Söder sent him the concept in mid-May.

Of course, Söder’s new concept is not far off. It doesn’t go an iota beyond what he’s been announcing for months. This shows Söder’s letter to Habeck Süddeutsche Zeitung present. It gives the impression that, from Söder’s point of view, wind power should continue to play a subordinate role in the energy transition and thus also in climate protection. You can see that from the fact that Söder only addresses wind energy at the very end of his letter.

In addition, the point comprises only six pages of the 31-page letter. If you subtract Söder’s wind power claims on the federal government, there are only five. Stylistically, many passages are almost identical to the official report from the Council of Ministers on May 17, in which the concept was decided, and Söder’s statements in the press conference after the meeting.

The 10-H rule slows down wind power

The exceptions that Söder Habeck offers from the controversial 10-H rule are also just a rehash of what the Prime Minister has been announcing for almost a year. In forests, on motorways, on so-called priority areas or on military training areas, the distance between new wind turbines and the nearest towns should be halved to 1000 meters, he writes to Habeck.

The 10-H requirement only exists in Bavaria. It stipulates that the distance between new wind turbines and the nearest location must be ten times the height of the system. With modern systems, this is two kilometers or more. All experts are convinced that the 10-H rule is the reason why wind power in Bavaria is not making as much progress as is necessary for the energy transition and the climate protection goals to which the state government has committed itself. Söder and the CSU deny this and absolutely want to stick with her. That in turn is the reason why Federal Economics Minister Habeck now wants to crack it open.

Otherwise, Söder’s letter is a defense of Bavaria’s energy policy coupled with demands on the federal government. It starts with the extension of the service life for the Isar 2 nuclear power plant. But Söder also requires more effort to develop a hydrogen economy, the rapid construction of the electricity highways from northern Germany to Bavaria and other regional power grids, a comprehensive energy price brake and the like. As far as renewable energies are concerned, the Prime Minister praises the Free State’s achievements in photovoltaics, he is committed to biomass power plants and hydropower and promises more use of geothermal energy. Despite its enormous potential, it plays a marginal role in Bavaria.

Söder’s letter, like the CSU’s lament, made little impression on Habeck. In the meantime, the federal cabinet has passed the Green politician’s draft law. If things continue as Habeck intends, Söder and the state government will not be able to avoid dedicating 1.8 percent of Bavaria’s area to wind power.

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