Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck and Environment Minister Steffi Lemke (both Green) want to accelerate the expansion of wind power on land with nationwide uniform specifications for species protection and wind energy.
On Monday in Berlin, they presented common key points for the examination and assessment of the extent to which a wind turbine poses a threat to a fixed list of currently 16 breeding bird species.
Exemptions from species protection law for the approval of onshore wind power are also to be simplified.
The replacement of existing wind turbines with more powerful systems is also made easier.
In addition, wind turbines should also be permitted in principle in landscape protection areas until the planned area target for onshore wind energy of two percent of the federal area has been met.
"The brake pads are gone," said Lemke.
An accelerated expansion of wind energy is possible.
At the same time, high standards of protection for birds, which are required under European law, would be maintained.
The federal government is tackling both crises, the extinction of species and the climate crisis, together.
The legislative process should start in the spring.
Against the background of the Ukraine war, Habeck underscored the need for urgency in the expansion of renewable energy.
"We preferred that," he said, referring to earlier plans to present the legislative changes before the summer.
"Species protection and wind power get along if you do it well," added Habeck.
"Today we managed to cut the knot." This means that species protection and wind power will be allies in the future and not opponents.