Wind energy critics content after encounter with Backhaus
Kickin' It Old School with Wind Power: Mayors Unite Against Uncontrolled Expansion
Just a few moons ago, around 50 mayors from Ludwigslust-Parchim's district gathered forces, forming an alliance against the relentless expansion of wind farms. Recently, they met with Environment Minister Till Backhaus (SPD) and got the lowdown.
Minister Going Bat for Legal Switcheroo
Backhaus pledged to the crew that he'd use his political muscle in the cabinet to push for a federal initiative, aiming to change the current wind farm expansion legislation. Right now, wind turbines enjoy priority building rights in open spaces, regardless of their suitability. Additionally, a building application's approval doesn't hinge on whether the facility can connect to existing networks.
What the folks in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania want is for lawmakers to recognize the gaping holes in regulations that allow widespread building applications for wind farms, pending State Office for Agriculture and Environment (Stalu) approval, unless regional plans prohibit it.
No Plan in W-Mecklenburg
However, there's no suitable regional plan in W-Mecklenburg, as authors were supposed to ink one by February 2024. Alas, progress stalled, and the Regional Planning Association couldn't deliver by the deadline. In a shocking turn of events on the 9th of April 2025, the association decided to designate wind-friendly zones for 1.4 percent of the state's total area.
This decision might be implemented by October 2025, allowing the association to finalize a regional plan that outlines potential wind farm zones. This could lead to a legal shift that renders wind farm expansion possible only on sites with network connections needed for grid-compatible energy production.
Politician's About-Face
"This would be a massive flip-flop in politics, and I reckon the words'll translate into action," notes one notableplayer. Rumor has it that many wind turbines are erected with nary a thought given to energy grid connections, just cashing in on government subsidies.
Uwe Ditsche, a member of the Bengerstorf citizens' initiative, explains that subsidies under the current renewable energy law (EEG) are paid out, even on projects that can't feed energy into the grid due to network constraints. He's optimistic about Minister Backhaus's support.
"We haven't seen a concrete solution yet, but we appreciate the intention to restore order and make the wild growth resemble a tamed garden," says Ditsche. The key here, as Markus von Fuchs from the Passow citizens' initiative highlights, is to make sure that "the energy chapter of the regional plan with the reduced area scope to 1.4 percent is adopted as planned by October 2025," he says.
[1] https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/germanys-50hertz-plans-invest-baltic-sea-offshore-grid-2020-06-03/
[3] https://researchbrief.csis.org/danish-wind-farm-urges-european-union-to-eliminate-subsidies/
- Minister Backhaus has promised to use his political influence to spearhead a federal initiative aimed at altering the existing wind farm expansion legislation.
- The mayors are concerned about the current regulations that allow widespread wind farm applications, which can be approved without considering connectivity to existing energy networks.
- In the absence of a suitable regional plan, the Regional Planning Association has designated wind-friendly zones for 1.4% of the state's total area, a decision that could lead to a shift in wind farm expansion policy.
- Uwe Ditsche, a member of the Bengerstorf citizens' initiative, expressed optimism about Minister Backhaus's support for a policy that would ensure the payment of subsidies only to wind projects that can connect to the grid.
