display
Hanover / Berlin (dpa) - The environmental protection organization BUND is disturbed by the latest statements by Lower Saxony's Energy and Environment Minister Olaf Lies on the relationship between wind power expansion and species protection.
The SPD politician had recently warned that “individual, small-scale protection interests could slow down large-scale climate protection projects” such as the construction of wind turbines, and this also related to the concerns of some nature conservationists.
"It is correct that Germany and Lower Saxony also need a consistent expansion of renewables in order to achieve the ambitious climate protection goals," said the vice-head of the Federation for Environment and Nature Conservation Germany (BUND) in the most important wind power state of Lower Saxony, Axel Ebeler. "However, this must not and must not be at the expense of species protection." Fast, less complex procedures are important - but just as “the availability of qualified data on species and biotope protection must continue to be significantly improved”.
Lies had spoken out in favor of a readjustment in species protection with a view to a more rapid expansion of green electricity production in Germany.
“Anyone who wants to expand wind power has to accept that certain types of wind power could also fall victim to the systems.
Many do not want to hear that, it is also part of the truth, ”he told the German press agency.
Ebeler now said that these statements were “incomprehensible and counterproductive”.
display
According to Lies, it is a matter of appropriately balancing the short to medium-term advantages of additional green electricity capacities with the long-term consequences of a warmer climate for many animal and plant species: “If we don't pay much more attention to the necessary climate protection, we already have in a few years the consequences for species protection will be much more dramatic. "
The construction of wind turbines is often very controversial on site.
There are many lawsuits for species protection reasons.
Plans to build plants in forest areas also caused a stir - the wind industry and politics in Lower Saxony recently emphasized that this is only realistic in commercial forests, excluding mixed forests and protected areas.
Pragmatic solutions are necessary, said Lies.
He supports the demands of Environment Secretary Jochen Flasbarth, who wants a federal regulation if necessary because the states cannot agree on uniform steps.
The coalition in Berlin must agree on the amendment to the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) by the end of April.
Actually, the federal government wanted to present a concept by the end of March on how the expansion of renewable energies will continue - but the negotiations stalled.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210422-99-309508 / 3