The contract had already been formulated before it was even certain whether the citizens of Ebersberg could even imagine building wind turbines in the forest. The core content of the paper is the limitation of the systems to a maximum of five, on which the Bavarian State Forests, the district of Ebersberg and its project partner Green City AG agreed at an early stage. So early, however, that the contract will no longer be valid at the end of this month and will have to be signed again. However, the parameters have changed since Green City had to file for bankruptcy in the meantime and was taken over by a French investor. What does that mean for the planned wind farm in the Ebersberg Forest?
The decision on further steps depends on the Bavarian State Forests
Even in the district office, this is not entirely clear, as has now emerged during a press round. “We now have to see whether the contract will be extended,” says District Administrator Robert Niedergesäß (CSU). The district has little say in this, since the decision lies with the state forests on whose territory the wind turbines are to be built. According to Niedergesäß, if the vote is positive, it will have to be seen with which partners and in which constellation one will continue to work in the future.
District Administrator Robert Niedergesäß wants to stick to the wind farm in the Ebersberg Forest.
(Photo: Christian Endt)
The reason for this uncertainty is the bankruptcy of the project partner Green City. The Munich energy company filed for insolvency at the district court earlier this year, citing “impending insolvency and overindebtedness” as the reason. Accordingly, claims of around six million euros could no longer be settled. Around four months later, however, a buyer for Green City was found in the French green electricity producer Qair Group, who took over the core business of the AG and “a large number” of the approximately 150 project companies in Germany and other EU countries belonging to the group, as was the case at the time from the responsible party insolvency administrator was to be experienced.
The contact to the employees of Green City is still good
Since then, the Ebersberg district office has been wondering whether the GmbH responsible for the wind farm in the forest was also transferred to the French. “We have always been told that this division is not affected by the insolvency,” said District Administrator Niedergesäß. However, he cannot say anything about how the company’s networking is in the background. The fact is that so far no one from the Qair Group has contacted Ebersberg. On the other hand, we are still in close contact with the responsible employees at Green City. “They are motivated and have not fled in all directions,” says the district administrator, who is therefore confident that the project in the Ebersberg Forest can be pushed forward.
First of all, however, the extension of that “site security contract” by the state forests is on the agenda. A decision should be made in the next few days. Niedergesäß does not dare to forecast how this will turn out, but makes it clear that a negative decision would not immediately mean the end for the Ebersberg wind turbines. “We take the decision as it comes,” said the district administrator. However, if the state forests decided not to sign the paper, they would have to reorient themselves. “We will make the best of every solution,” promises Niedergesäß.
If necessary, another project partner must be found
In fact, shortly after the insolvency of the project partner became known, it became apparent that the district felt bound by the vote of the citizens and still wanted to build the wind turbines. He assumes that the project is not fundamentally at risk if Green City fails, Niedergesäß said at the time. If necessary, you have to realize the project with another partner. Agreements similar to those made with Green City can then be made with them, regarding the assumption of costs for planning and other preparatory work. The next few days will show whether this will happen.