Wind turbines for Altentreptow: Financial rescue for the church!

Wind turbines for Altentreptow: Financial rescue for the church!

The discussion about wind turbines in church communities continues to gain momentum. Communities in Altentreptow, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, have been actively addressing the issue for several years. Pastor Michael Giebel is confident that the Mecklenburg Lake District will soon take steps to put the plans into action. This could be of great financial benefit not only to the parish, but also to the region. Planned wind turbines could generate rental payments and shares in the electricity yield, which could bring in several hundred thousand euros annually, like this Evangelical newspaper reported.

A total of 50 contracts for wind turbines have already been concluded in Pomeranian communities in the past. What is promising is that the first wind turbines are already running in the communities of Siedenbollentin, Groß Bisdorf and Kartlow-Völschow. Uwe Burmester, head of the real estate department of the Greifswald parish office, emphasizes that the parishes are supported in the construction of the wind turbines. In order to meet the increasing demand in this area, an almost full project position was created in the administration.

Financial perspectives

With a clear goal in mind: Pastor Giebel expects income of around 100,000 euros per wind turbine. At least four and possibly even seven wind turbines are planned. This income should not only serve to maintain employee positions, but also finance urgently needed church renovations. However, the amount of income per wind turbine can vary greatly, depending on the location and performance of the respective system. The income is currently between 100,000 and 200,000 euros per year, which could make a welcome contribution to the municipal finances.

However, the project also brings with it challenges. The process of building wind turbines usually takes at least five years. But Pastor Giebel also sees opportunities through possible legal changes that could speed up the process. On the other hand, there are also concerns among the parish councils. Some communities are skeptical about the nearby wind farms or generally speak out against the “asparagusation” of the landscape, which leads to exciting discussions within the communities.

Solidarity among communities

Pastor Stefan Fricke from Stralsund addresses an important concern: solidarity among church communities, especially for those who do not own their own land and therefore cannot generate income from wind turbines. This raises the question of what a fair distribution of financial benefits in the field of wind energy could look like. In times of climate change and energy crises, the pursuit of sustainable solutions is more important than ever. But at the same time, the demand for a respectful approach to nature and the landscape cannot be ignored.

It is precisely in moments like these that it becomes clear how much the issue of wind energy affects communities. While new approaches are being taken in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, there have also been significant weather events in the Caribbean. Hurricane Melissa caused a stir when a NOAA research team was forced to abort its mission due to intense turbulence, demonstrating the dangers associated with extreme weather phenomena. It was reportedly the most intense turbulence an expert has ever experienced while collecting valuable weather data CNN.

In view of these developments, it becomes clear: addressing renewable energies and the associated challenges is an urgent issue not only locally, but globally. How church communities in Germany deal with these challenges could be groundbreaking for the country's future energy policy.