Gewessler will end the blockade against wind turbines
environment
The patience of Environment Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens) with the last three wind power muffles in Austria Salzburg, Tyrol and Vorarlberg is over. With a three-point plan, the minister wants to break the political blockade of the western federal states against wind turbines and accelerate the energy transition.
In order to be independent in power generation by 2030, Vorarlberg, Tyrol and Salzburg must no longer do without wind power, emphasizes Environment and Energy Minister Leonore Gewessler from the Greens and now wants to drastically shorten the official procedure for wind power plants, which can last up to eight years.
Gewessler will speed up proceedings
“Yes, the windmill is, but not with us – that’s no longer possible. That’s why we want to stipulate in the future that there is no longer a need for a dedication in renewable systems if there is no spatial energy planning in the federal states. Then one may also without dedication in the EIA. Since the location is checked in the approval process, without special dedication. That unbelievable. The second point: checked once is enough. Testing is important, but once a test is done, there is a result. You can also accept that, you can continue to work on it. And the third point: Yes, the energy transition is of particular public interest,” Gewessler said on Monday.
“Have supply gaps in winter”
The Ukraine war and fossil fuels are to blame for the recent energy price increases, adds Stefan Moidl, managing director of IG Windkraft. “We currently have a supply gap in the winter, which we are largely replacing with gas power. That’s why wind energy is so important, because it directly replaces the amount of electricity from gas, because it’s generated in winter,” explains Moidl.
Although Salzburg is currently drawing up a plan for energy planning, the minister admits that the time to become independent is urgent, says Gewessler.