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Thuringia opens the door for wind turbines in the state forest – what’s next!
Thuringia's environment minister is skeptical about wind power in forests following a change in the law, and further developments are expected.
Thuringia opens the door for wind turbines in the state forest – what’s next!
Something is happening in the area of wind power in Thuringia: A recently passed change in the law brings a breath of fresh air into the debate about wind turbines in the state forest. According to the South German newspaper Thuringia's Environment and Energy Minister Tilo Kummer expects that, despite the new regulations, a maximum of around ten wind turbines could be built in the coming years. This is because the construction of wind turbines requires a considerable amount of time in advance and the consent of the municipalities is also necessary.
Before Christmas, the CDU, BSW and SPD factions in the state parliament passed the change in the law, while the Left faction abstained from the vote. This means that the Thuringian State Forestry Agency and the municipalities will benefit from the proceeds from wind power production. Kummer informed that there is already interest from companies that would like to purchase wind power from the state forest. “We would also like to use wind power financing to promote the reforestation of damaged forests,” continued Kummer.
An old debate reignited
The debate about wind turbines in the forest has been raging through politics and citizens' initiatives for years. The Farmer's newspaper describes that forest owners are rather reserved. The change in the law aims to enable ThüringenForst to benefit financially from the production of renewable energies, including wind power, photovoltaic systems and the use of wood for energy. The forestry department manages around 200,000 hectares of the total forest of 550,000 hectares in Thuringia.
The new regulation enables municipalities to decide on land-use planning and locations of wind turbines in the future. Through a wind participation law, they already receive a share of the sale of wind power if the systems are built nearby.
Ecology in view
But what happens to nature? Concerns about environmental sustainability and nature conservation are high on the agenda. According to the Thuringian Ministry of the Environment, it is necessary to consider potential threats to birds and insects. A study shows that many insects that are part of the farmland bird food chain do not reach rotor blade heights, reducing potential threats to bird populations. Nevertheless, an environmental impact assessment is required by law to minimize undesirable effects on local flora and fauna. Areas such as the Hainich National Park remain excluded from wind power planning in order to ensure nature and species protection, as in the report by Thuringia environment is presented.
In summary, it can be said that the landscape in the Thuringian forest could become a little more colorful in the coming years if the wind turbines actually come. But the balancing act must be maintained between ecological considerations and future-oriented, renewable energy production. A good hand in planning and execution could be crucial here.