The federal government finally wants to speed up procedures for green electricity power plants. Doubts remain in Styria, mainly because there is a lack of lawyers and experts. According to experts, the acid test for the new law is coming soon.
The good news from Mauerbach makes the champagne corks pop on Wednesday in the headquarters of Energie Steiermark – one might think. But company spokesman Urs Harnik remains deliberately sober when he comments on the EIA amendment announced by the federal government: “The approval process must not only be accelerated on paper, but also in reality.” finally given the green light. Much too long for the necessary energy transition, so a frequent criticism. Giant wind farm is fought Harnik: “We currently have projects with an investment volume of around 300 million euros in EIA procedures.” Half of this sum is for the Freiländeralm wind farm with 21 wheels in western Styria. The state, as the first instance, approved the project in autumn, after objections, including from the municipality of Edelschrott, the Federal Administrative Court in Vienna is now on the Zug. Harnik: “If we receive the decision by the summer, we can start building quickly. Otherwise we will lose a year because we can only carry out certain ecological measures in the autumn.” Acid test for reform soon to come will. These include other wind farms, but also hydroelectric power plants such as the one on the Mur in Leoben. The Styrian Minister for the Environment Ursula Lackner (SPÖ) welcomes the possibility “that the federal states can handle procedures as efficiently as possible”. But she also emphasizes that one must do justice to nature conservation and biodiversity – reasons why environmentalists often fight against new power plants. More lawyers and experts required What Harnik needs in any case is an increase in human resources – more lawyers, judges and experts . In Styria, the state department 13 was blocked for a long time after the scandal surrounding allegedly incorrectly carried out EIA procedures. In the previous year alone, five new lawyers came, says von Lackner. Another two lawyers and one clerk are to follow soon. And there are ten new official experts. According to Harnik, however, the second instance in Vienna in particular is often late and does not meet deadlines: “Many things are being discussed again, which causes unnecessary delays.” provide euros. In Styria, the program for renewable energy, which identifies priority zones for solar power in up to 39 municipalities, should be available in January.
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