Habeck gives in to Merz: Industry outraged by planned wind power restrictions

(Michael Kappeler/dpa)Does Minister Habeck fulfill his wishes for the CDU leader?

A draft by the Green Economics Minister Robert Habeck on possible restrictions on the expansion of wind power is triggering strong headwinds. The changes were requested by CDU candidate for chancellor Friedrich Merz.

The wind power industry is alarmed by a draft from Robert Habeck’s Ministry of Economic Affairs. The regulations provide for changes to wind power planning, which could then be more easily restricted. Spicy: CDU chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz had publicly called for such a reform. This is reported, among other things, by the online edition of the Tagesspiegel in its online edition.

The background for Merz’s move is a ruling by the Münster Higher Administrative Court. This canceled the regional planning for wind power in North Rhine-Westphalia at the end of September. As a result, it is no longer possible to restrict the expansion of wind power there. In North Rhine-Westphalia there were fears that there would be a proliferation of wind turbines.

The wind power industry and climate activists are horrified

The wind power industry, within which processes are also referred to as “Lex Sauerland”, is alarmed by the Ministry of Economic Affairs’ plans. There they are ensuring that the expansion of wind power could be slowed down. The President of the Federal Wind Energy Association, Bärbel Heidebroek, said: “Such far-reaching changes cause considerable problems for the responsible authorities. A federal government that is no longer sufficiently legitimate should refrain from such comprehensive interventions.”

According to Tagesspiegel, the Federal Managing Director of German Environmental Aid, Barbara Metz, asked Habeck to make it clear that he would not impose any restrictions on wind power. Carla Reemtsma, spokeswoman for the climate protection movement Fridays for Future, criticized CDU chancellor candidate Merz: “Putting Economics Minister Robert Habeck under pressure in the middle of the election campaign and asking for favors in the interests of Merz’s constituency is absolutely unworthy of a candidate for chancellor.”

Nothing has been decided yet

Meanwhile, important sounds are coming from the Ministry of Economic Affairs. “Under no circumstances does the federal government intend to slow down the expansion of wind power,” a spokesman told the Tagesspiegel. Of course, we don’t agree with any law that would slow down the expansion of wind power. Ingrid Nestle, energy policy spokeswoman for the Greens, also commented that this was never up for discussion. And a spokesman told the online edition of the taz: “Nothing has been decided yet.”

As the taz further writes, the expansion of wind energy was neglected by previous federal governments. Among other things, the traffic light government has simplified the approval process and massively pushed forward the expansion. Figures from the Federal Statistical Office confirm this. Accordingly, in the first half of 2024, 61.5 percent of the electricity generated in this country came from wind, solar, hydropower and biomass. With a share of one third (33.3 percent), wind power was by far the most important energy source in domestic electricity production.