The Swiss wind farm has to be cut back to protect the birds
ZURICH, November 24th (Reuters) – A new wind farm in Switzerland must cut back on its renewable energy plans to protect endangered bird species, the country’s Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday.
The plans for the new wind farm in the Grenchenberg region in the Jura had sparked opposition from ornithologists and conservationists, who argued that it would disrupt the local woodlark and peregrine falcon population, which is considered endangered in Switzerland.
The wind farm had set itself the goal of delivering 16 megawatts of energy through six new wind turbines by 2023, enough to cover two thirds of the electricity consumption of the nearby city of Grenchen.
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Now the operator Windkraft Grenchen is only allowed to install four of the six turbines, ruled the Supreme Court. Continue reading
“Ultimately, it is crucial that the two most easterly located wind turbines are only 350 and 700 meters away from a peregrine falcon nest,” said a statement from the Supreme Court.
“They are well below the minimum distance of 1,000 meters, which the Sempach Ornithological Institute describes as the lowest acceptable limit.”
The urge to find new renewable energy sources has challenged conservationists and social activists against plans to massively expand carbon-neutral energy facilities as the world seeks to stave off the worst of climate change.
The Norwegian Supreme Court revoked two wind farms from operating permits in October when it found that the construction of the projects violated the rights of indigenous reindeer herders. Continue reading
BirdLife Switzerland, which had filed a lawsuit against the planned Swiss wind farm, said the ruling confirmed the need for a balance of interests and a corresponding planning of the wind farms.
“Climate change and the biodiversity crisis are two equally existential crises,” said the organization. “One cannot be solved at the expense of the other.”
The wind energy association Suisse Eole was disappointed by the decision of the Supreme Court.
“The greatest enemy of birds is and will remain climate change,” said its President Isabelle Chevalley.
Wind power Grenchen did not respond to a request for a statement.
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Reporting by Brenna Hughes Neghaiwi Editing by Mark Potter
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