Renewable energy
Minimum distance from wind turbines to settlements should be abolished
From a Berlin windmill in Pankow you can see Berlin under the clouds. In NRW, the abolition of the 1000-meter distance rule should bring new impetus to wind energy. photo
© Annette Riedl/dpa
Wind power should get a boost in North Rhine-Westphalia. However, there are still a number of obstacles that need to be overcome in order to expand. An important decision is pending this week.
A long-standing contentious issue in the expansion of wind power in North Rhine-Westphalia is to be cleared out of the way this week. Finally, on Thursday, the state parliament wants to vote on the abolition of the general 1000 meter distance rule for wind turbines to residential areas. A corresponding amendment to the building code is planned.
The draft law was presented by the government factions of the CDU and the Greens. The approval of the abolition of the 1000-meter minimum distance, which has long been controversial, especially in the CDU, is therefore considered certain. This rule has already been overturned when older wind turbines were renewed.
According to environmental associations, the minimum distance between wind turbines and residential areas is a hindrance to the expansion of wind energy. According to the black-green coalition agreement, at least 1000 additional wind turbines are to be built in NRW during this legislative period.