Appeal against Stegenwald power plant is pending
politics
With the planned construction of the Salzach power plant in Stegenwald near Werfen (Pongau), the game between Salzburg AG and the State Environmental Ombudsman’s Office is getting tougher. The LUA has until 5 p.m. on Wednesday to submit its objection to the construction to the Administrative Court.
Environmental lawyer Gishild Schaufler leaves no doubt that she is making the objection. For them, the route between Bischofshofen and Golling is “the last undeveloped one” on the Salzach.
LUA sees species as endangered
Salzburg AG insists on the opportunity to produce more of its own green electricity in times of skyrocketing energy prices – in order to become even more independent from the international market. The planned power plant could supply 20,000 households with electricity. Planning has been going on for ten years, and the resistance of the state environmental prosecutor’s office has been going on for that long.
Environmental lawyer Gishild Schaufler is currently working on the final wording for the objection to the project. The central point is species protection: “We have something unique and special here. It is the last free flowing surface of the upper Salzach. Only here can the Salzach flow freely. There are many life forms and animal species here.”
Salzburg AG points to a deeper meaning
CEO Leonhard Schitter from Salzburg AG refers to the planned hydroelectric power plant as an eco-project that supplies a lot of renewable energy: “We are in times of constantly rising energy prices and more and more dependence on other countries. We have to strengthen our own production. And now we have the opportunity to do that.”
Government politician for renewable energy
Especially in times of skyrocketing energy prices, the tensions between ecology and sometimes even green economy are increasing, says LHstv. and Energy Advisor Heinrich Schellhorn (Greens): “This tension will continue to increase. Because renewable energy projects also encroach on natural spaces. We have to step up the pace a lot here, and that’s why the tension will be great in the future.”
Now it’s the Administrative Court’s turn. The first question is whether the supreme judges in Vienna even allow this objection by the state environmental prosecutor.