More money for wind power: Citizens in MV skeptical about new laws!

More money for wind power: Citizens in MV skeptical about new laws!

The discussion about wind power is taking on a new dimension in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (MV). The state government in Schwerin has introduced a new citizen and community participation law for wind farms. This promises not only an increase in financial incentives for communities and citizens, but also closer integration into decision-making processes.

Under the newly passed law, operators of wind turbines will in future pay 0.3 cents per kilowatt hour to communities and residents. This is a significant increase compared to the previous regulation, which only provided for 0.2 cents. Economics Minister Wolfgang Blank emphasizes how important it is to make the advantages of the energy transition noticeable locally. More money, more opportunities, less bureaucracy and greater local value creation - these are the government's core concerns, as Ostsee-Zeitung reports.

Mixed reactions

The reactions to the innovations are mixed. While Lars Bergemann criticizes that money cannot buy acceptance, Mario Kayser expresses his dislike for wind turbines near his home. Markus Liebig, on the other hand, sees developments in the context of climate change as positive and emphasizes the need for alternative energies. Other voices like Ralph Wegner's call for compensation for alternative forms of energy, while Helmut Ernst considers the implementation of the energy transition to be inadequate.

These different opinions reflect the broad facets of the topic and illustrate how important comprehensive citizen participation is in the planning and implementation of wind power projects.

Regulations for citizen participation

The new law ensures that both municipalities and residents within a five kilometer radius of a wind turbine (WEA) are eligible. Citizens can participate with at least 10% of the shares or choose a compensatory levy in the form of a savings product, without the consent of the municipality, as [Grant Thornton](https://www.grantthornton.de/themen/2024/buerger-und-kommunal participation-bei-wind-und-solarprojekten/) reports.

In addition, the focus is on enabling individual participation agreements. This is intended to ensure better adaptation to the needs of residents and communities. The aim is to give citizens a voice and to take their needs and concerns seriously.

In other federal states such as Brandenburg, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia and Thuringia, regulations have also been made for the participation of municipalities and citizens in wind power projects. These variations can serve as a stimulus for Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania to close possible gaps and actively involve local people.

The developments in wind power policy show that the issue has not only technical but also social dimensions. Climate protection and economic relief must go hand in hand in order to achieve broad acceptance among the population.