A Call for Wind Energy Expansion Outside Berlin's Forests: Nabu's Stand
Demands Increase in Wind Energy Sites Excluding Forested Areas by Nabu - Advocate Nabu Pushes for Expansion of Wind Energy Sources Beyond Forest Areas
Listen up, folks! The Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (Nabu) wants to lighten up on the forest whenever it comes to setting up wind turbines in Berlin. They reckon the trick is to focus on areas where turbines already thrive and leave the woods out of it.
The wind energy plans proposed by the Senate are way too big, taking up nearly 600 hectares! Now, according to the law of the land, Berlin has to mark 0.5% of its area as wind farm territory by 2032, but only 0.25% is needed before the end of '27. And guess what? Nabu believes that there's more than enough open space outside of the woods for these wind farms, without disturbing the forest's peaceful vibe.
"The Senate's just aiming for the stars when it comes to meeting the government's expectations at this moment in time!" kiddo, Rainer Altenkamp, Nabu Berlin's chair, declared. "Given the furor from the citizens, especially about wind energy in the woods, this just doesn't make a lick of sense."
Nabu wants more mindful planning
To add fuel to the fire, the new federal government recently vouched to evaluate potential wind energy areas in 2032, and in Altenkamp's gander, the Senate shouldn't already hit that target, let alone surpass it! "Once an area's declared as a wind energy zone, it's like signing a death warrant for wind turbines there!"
So, what's next? The Senate's list of contenders for wind farm locations includes the Krummendammer Heath in Treptow-Koepenick, the southern Grunewald in Steglitz-Zehlendorf, the Rieselfields Karolinenhoehe in Spandau, or Buchholz Nord in Pankow.
- Wind Energy
- Berlin
- Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union
- Federal Government
Extra Info
- Germany's working hard to meet ambitious renewable energy targets and combat climate change, with a massive increase in wind and solar power infrastructure in the pipeline. But ecologists and Nabu are reminding the government to be mindful of the impact on wildlife and forests.
- Studies show that certain wildlife, like forest bats, are at risk of harm when wind turbines are built in or near deciduous forests. Bat roosts can become death traps if turbines are erected too close, as bats may mistake them for trees at dusk.
- To keep the peace between nature conservation and wind energy development, planners and ecologists must weigh the habitat needs and behavior of vulnerable species and find suitable locations for new turbines.
- The federal government has ambitious renewable energy goals and has promised substantial funds for nature-based climate and biodiversity initiatives, signaling a concerted effort to reconcile conservation and renewable energy expansion.
- The Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (Nabu) in Berlin advocates for a more mindful planning approach when it comes to setting up wind turbines, emphasizing that there's ample open space outside forests for wind farms.
- Given Germany's commitment to combat climate change and achieve ambitious renewable energy targets, it is essential for planners and ecologists to consider the impact on wildlife and forests when choosing wind energy sites.
- In the midst of this debate, the federal government has vowed to evaluate potential wind energy areas in 2032, and the Chair of Nabu Berlin, Rainer Altenkamp, suggests that the Senate should not surpass this target but rather attain it mindfully to avoid damaging wildlife habitats, such as those of forest bats.
- As part of its wind energy plans, the Senate has proposed several locations, such as Krummendammer Heath, Grunewald, Rieselfields Karolinenhoehe, and Buchholz Nord, but Nabu insists that these forest areas should be off-limits due to the potential harm to wildlife, particularly forest bats.
