Wind power expansion in Olsberg: Community agreement under pressure!

Wind power expansion in Olsberg: Community agreement under pressure!

In the municipality of Olsberg, extensive plans for the construction of 54 wind turbines are currently being pushed forward. These projects not only include Olsberg itself, but also extend to the surrounding communities in Rüthen, Brilon, Winterberg and Bestwig. The consent of the city of Olsberg is questionable for many of these planned systems, since they are outside the wind energy sector shown in the regional plan. The city council expresses concerns about the non -strength of municipal self -government in terms of approval of the wind power projects. According to Hochsauerlandkreis. RWE enriches the portfolio in the region with another project: four wind turbines on Langerberg with an impressive height of 266.50 meters. The only application for a preliminary decision for RWE’s projects is still pending.

public participation and procedure

In the current situation, obtaining public opinions and objections to these wind power projects is of central importance. The Hochsauerlandkreis has announced that they have been examined and discussed all received objections. This will not be done as a face-to-face event, but in the form of online consultations, which was necessary due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Citizens and other authorized participants can comment in writing or electronically by a given date.

The approval procedures for these wind turbines are subject to the Federal Immission Control Act (BImSchG). According to the provisions of the BImSchG, the immission protection approval process has a concentration effect, which means that all the necessary permits are checked within the framework of this procedure. This includes, among other things, immission protection, nature and species protection law as well as building registration and construction planning law. There are two procedures: the simplified and formal procedure that provides for comprehensive public participation.

changes in the Federal Immission Control Act

In order to promote wind power expansion and to eliminate existing grievances in the event of a preliminary decision procedure, the German Bundestag has reached an agreement on the amendment to the Federal Immission Protection Act. This change is intended to strengthen the planning sovereignty of the countries. According to the requirements, wind technology systems will only be built on designated areas in the respective regional plans. The new regulation aims to increase the acceptance of wind power projects and at the same time remove legal uncertainties for investors, citizens and authorities.

The final decision on the community agreement for the wind power projects is expected to be made on January 30th in the City of Olsberg. In view of the complexity of the matter and the different interests that collide in this process, it remains to be seen which directions will make the decision -making process.