In the case of Natura 2000 areas that protect birds and bats, turbines would not be located within 1.5 km of their boundaries. The industry considered this a legal error and another setback that will make the development of onshore wind energy impossible. Where do such solutions come from, when not even environmental organizations advocated that this distance should be closer than 1.5 km?
Such voices were heard during the debate that took place in the Sejm on the occasion of the latest amendment to the Wind Farms Act, when the minimum distance from buildings was changed to 700 m. Environmental organisations then emphasised that buffer zones around national parks, nature reserves and Natura 2000 areas should be protected because of the flying creatures for which windmills can pose a threat. Therefore, we need to balance the votes for and against – explains Minister Zielińska.
– However, I want to assure you that the days of late-night legal briefings are over. This law will be consulted on, for now these are the provisions of the draft that is going through the government process. Therefore, we have invited such comments during the consultation phase and will take them into consideration. We want to develop wind energy, which has been blocked since 2016 and is one of the cheapest energy sources – he adds.
