Energy – Munich – CSU: Less nature conservation preferred by more hydropower – Bavaria
Augsburg (dpa / lby) – The CSU calls on the federal government to relax the nature conservation requirements for the construction of new hydroelectric power plants. For the expansion of renewable energies in Bavaria, “the announced easing of nature conservation must also apply to hydropower and not just to wind,” said CSU Secretary General Stephan Mayer of the “Augsburger Allgemeine” (Monday). Bavaria is at the top nationwide when it comes to solar energy, hydropower, biomass and geothermal energy, “and we want to make further progress here.” The federal government should not slow down southern Germany.
Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg are struggling with the wind because of the terrain, said the CSU general secretary. Despite the goal of building 500 new wind turbines in Bavaria, the CSU will basically stick to the minimum distance between wind turbines and residential buildings. “The 10H rule has settled the wind power debate in Bavaria and ensures public participation.”
The Bavarian SPD parliamentary group and party leader Florian von Brunn rated Mayer’s demand as a “diversionary maneuver from the CSU’s failure in wind power”. The hydropower potential in Bavaria was soon fully exhausted, he said, referring to statements by Economics Minister Hubert Aiwanger (free voters).
For the state chairman of the federal nature protection, Richard Mergner, Mayer’s demand is hopeless. “At best, the modernization of existing large hydroelectric power plants while improving the river ecology would make sense,” he said. But even that has little potential.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:220327-99-689788/4