After the BMW automobile group signed the purchase contract for a 105-hectare building site in Lower Bavaria, the conflict over the planned battery factory for electric cars came to a head. “They are building here in the green meadow, in the best field, ruthlessly and against any political statement about the consumption of land,” said Thomas Spötzl, spokesman for the citizens’ initiative (BI) “Liveable Gäuboden” on Friday. The group wants to prevent the construction of the huge factory on the grounds of the communities of Straßkirchen and Irlbach. In the event that the majority of the municipal councils agree to the project, the BI is planning a citizens’ initiative. “We want a democratic decision,” said Spötzl, for which “all arguments would have to be put on the table.” Locally, he estimates people’s approval and disapproval of the factory to be “fifty-fifty”. Spötzl fears an ordeal, the project “can split”.
Armin Soller, mayor in Irlbach and supporter of the factory, assesses the conflict situation differently. He sees “a very clear majority in the citizenry” for the settlement of the BMW plant. Young people in particular are “very, very popular,” especially because of the training positions that the plant brings. At an information event for the approximately 4,000 residents of the two communities on March 3, BMW and the political decision-makers want to “clear up the information deficit” that some still have, said Soller. “Once all citizens are properly informed,” acceptance will grow again. However, Soller rules out the possibility that local politicians will still position themselves against the project. There are also “clear majorities” in the municipal councils.
For next Tuesday, BMW has invited the two mayors and two representatives of the citizens’ initiative “to a personal meeting in a small group,” says BI spokesman Spötzl. While the car company and politicians rely on persuasion, Spötzl says “a compromise is hardly conceivable” that could keep the BI from planning a referendum. There is little to suggest that the conflict will end anytime soon.
The farmers’ association also agreed in principle to the project. Franz Schreyer, chairman of the Straubing-Bogen district, told the SZ that his heart “bleeds” when agricultural land is lost. There are also some farmers who are skeptical. On the other hand, one must be happy if BMW builds the plant in Lower Bavaria and not abroad. He announced that the farmers’ association would push for economical use of the land during the planning process.
BMW wants to assemble the batteries for the electric vehicles in the plant, which are built in Dingolfing, Regensburg and Munich. It is likely to involve investments in the range of 700 to 800 million euros. The start of construction is planned for 2024. The plant will create 1000 jobs.