More wind power, much more wind power.

This is the only way Germany can achieve climate neutrality in 2045, that is the message of the traffic light coalition.

The wind power targets are by no means new.

In its long-term scenarios, the previous government had also set itself goals in this area that should have been accompanied by a massive expansion of wind power.

By 2030, 80 gigawatts should come from wind power, currently it is almost 56 gigawatts.

But the expansion of wind power has been paralyzed for years.

Last year only 240 new wind turbines were connected to the grid on land.

In 2017 there were seven times as many.

Why is that?

And what can you do about it?

Pure burger

Political correspondent in North Rhine-Westphalia.

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Reinhard Bingener

Political correspondent for Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Bremen based in Hanover.

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Timo Frasch

Political correspondent in Munich.

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Ruediger Soldt

Political correspondent in Baden-Württemberg.

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Timo Steppat

Editor in Politics.

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Economics Minister Robert Habeck, who is responsible for climate and energy, is traveling through the country these days to get a better impression and to talk to the state governments. This Thursday he is meeting Markus Söder in Munich. In recent years, the Bavarian Prime Minister has been keen to create a green image, but said mantra-like that Bavaria is "not a wind country". He also used the argument to defend the 10-H rule, which states that a wind turbine must be at least ten times its height from the nearest housing development. Peter Beermann from Munich sees things differently. He has to, because he is the "wind caretaker" for the administrative district of Upper Bavaria. In the Free State, the wind speeds are of course lower than in the north,but here, too, wind power can be operated economically.

It is Beermann's job as a wind caretaker to actually give wind energy the "upwind" promised by the Bavarian Economics Minister Hubert Aiwanger. In contrast to CSU boss Söder, the Free Voters chairman believes that the Free State needs more wind turbines. Alone, at the moment there is a political lull. Four wind turbines were approved in Bavaria in 2020 and six in 2021. Eight were set up in 2020, and just as many in 2021. Beermann, who runs a small planning office for wind turbines in Munich, sees one reason in the distance rule that was decided in 2014 - but that's not the only one. A big problem is species protection, which can extremely delay permits. For expert opinions on species protection law, which Beermann considers to be quite useful,you have to plan at least a year - "and then associations come and complain about it".

Advising, convincing, moderating as a "wind caretaker".

Until 2014 there were few obstacles for wind project planners in Bavaria.

As long as they adhered to the general requirements, such as emission control, they could build anywhere.

At the time, "things also happened that weren't nice," says Beermann.

Entire villages were "surrounded" with wind turbines.

10 H put the expansion of wind power in the hands of the municipalities.

You can override the distance rule with a council decision – theoretically.

Because what would a mayor have to gain, especially with a view to the next election?

Not much.

This is where the wind caretakers come into play: They are supposed to advise, persuade, moderate, and sometimes act as lightning conductors.