Chemnitz (dpa/sn) - According to a report in the "Freie Presse", the black-green-red government coalition in Saxony wants to pave the way for many new areas for wind turbines in the Free State. From next year, the municipalities should also be allowed to build wind turbines outside of the previously designated areas, as the newspaper reported on Saturday. This is to be made possible by a clause in the budget accompanying law, which is to be passed in the state parliament next Tuesday. Saxony lags behind other federal states when it comes to wind power.
The draft resolution for the state parliament states that the municipalities may deviate from the original regional plans and the state development plan "to accelerate the expansion of wind turbines". In addition, the regional planning associations are to be provided with 350,000 euros in "personnel and material funds" each year in order to promote the expansion of wind power.
The AfD criticized the government's plans. "Because in Saxony the resistance to wind turbines in the forest and right on the doorstep is huge, they started a night and fog campaign shortly before Christmas to push through this controversial issue without a public debate," said AfD member of parliament Thomas Thumm "Free Press" with a view to the planned law.
The federal government has obligated Saxony by law that two percent of the state's area must be used for wind power by 2032. Currently it is about a tenth of this value.
