Dispute arises between green advocates and conservationists concerning wind energy production
In a significant step towards resolving conflicts between nature conservation and the energy transition in Germany, the Greens and the German Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU) have reached a joint position on onshore wind energy.
The joint paper aims to clearly define where wind energy is possible and where it is not, focusing on the balance between climate protection and species protection. The Greens, with their aim to supply the country entirely with renewable energy by 2030, have identified wind energy as a significant contributor to this goal.
Priority areas for wind energy mean the exclusion of the construction of wind turbines outside these areas, particularly in regions with many "wind-sensitive bird species." These exclusion zones will help grant exceptions in other regions where these bird species occur.
New, uniform standards for a "significantly higher mortality risk" should make it easier for authorities to do their work, issuing permits more quickly and allowing for minor procedural errors to be corrected retroactively.
The agreement, reported by the "Süddeutsche Zeitung" in its Saturday edition, also includes the notion that states that exceed their wind power targets should be rewarded, while those that do not reach them should be penalized. The federal and state governments should set binding targets for wind power, ensuring each state meets a "minimum share" of wind power.
Each state should designate "priority or suitable areas" for wind energy, covering around 2% of the state's area. This move is expected to accelerate the expansion of wind power while protecting species, as stated by NABU President Krüger.
Green Party leader Habeck called the paper "proof that species protection and acceleration of expansion can go hand in hand." The joint position, however, does not specify the exact methods or strategies to be used for achieving this balance.
Environmentalists and citizens' initiatives have recently blocked wind projects in various locations, leading to years of conflicts between nature conservation and the energy transition. The joint positioning on the onshore wind energy agreement was reached with the Greens, but the negotiations were criticized for causing conflicts between the Greens and the German Nature and Biodiversity Union (Deutsche Natur- und Biodiversitätsunion). However, the specific individuals or groups who engaged in these talks and who explicitly accused the negotiations of causing these conflicts are not identified in the provided search results.
The aim is to balance this climate protection contribution with species protection, ensuring a sustainable and responsible approach to onshore wind energy in Germany.
