There is no compromise solution in sight in the dispute over Bavaria’s largest wind farm in the Altötting state forest. Bavarian Economics Minister Hubert Aiwanger (FW) said after a meeting with representatives of the Gegenwind citizens’ initiative in Munich on Monday that the people there are very emotionally attached to their forest. The conversation was very open. “I’m trying to save as much of the wind farm as possible.” Before the upcoming referendums in several municipalities, he will seek discussions with local citizens and mayors.
Headwind spokesman Wolfgang Peiska said after the meeting at the Ministry of Economic Affairs that the affected forest was a recreation area and a green lung for the region near the chemical industry. “We are against wind turbines in this forest.” They should be placed on highways and in industrial areas rather than destroying nature.
The energy company Qair wants to build 40 200-meter-high wind turbines in the Altöttinger Forest and put them into operation in three years. Aiwanger said these plants should generate ten percent of the electricity needed by industry in the region. “We can’t just snap our fingers and give up on this.”
Ten of these 40 wind turbines were actually supposed to be built in the area of the municipality of Mehring. But the citizens there rejected this by a two-thirds majority in a referendum in January. According to Qair, one hectare of forest has to be cleared for each wind turbine – that’s about the size of a football field. Peiska said that there would also be access roads and substations.
The Bavarian State Forests see 1,150 hectares in the Altöttinger and Burghausen Forest as potential project areas. Aiwanger said that in the end wind turbines would be built “whether the citizens and mayors want it or not.” The federal government says so. Every region must make its contribution if one does not want to continue to purchase nuclear power from the Czech Republic.
He will also go to Mehring and negotiate compromise options. “I don’t see total denial here, I see concerned citizens.” The construction and operation of wind turbines not only brings income to the state forest, but also to municipalities and the local economy. Peiska said that the citizens’ initiative was open to further discussions, but wanted to wait for further referendums.
According to the Federal Network Agency, Bavaria was ahead nationwide both in the expansion of renewable energies last year and in the number of solar, wind and biomass systems. According to the Bavarian Energy and Water Industry Association, two new wind turbines, 2,800 solar roof systems and 50 hectares of open space solar systems must be built every week in Bavaria if the Free State is to be climate-neutral by 2040.