Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
an example of the growing strength of opposition, in 2008, a public initia-
tive condemning the overexploitation of Brandenburg for wind power gen-
eration garnered 27,000 signatures, representing 1.1% of the Brandenburg
population. In this case, the municipal government responded in a man-
ner that typiies the reactive nature of wind power governance by issuing a
decree that wind turbines be located a minimum of 1000 m from residential
areas.
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Although the government strategy to attenuate NIMBY opposition has
generally been to reactively address emergent concerns on a project-by-
project basis, there have also been some proactive initiatives adopted to tem-
per what is becoming a progressively serious barrier to Germany's ambitious
wind power difusion goals. First and foremost of the initiatives is Germany's
reempowerment scheme. Since 2003, the government has been pursuing
a policy of encouraging the replacement of older turbines with turbines of
higher capacity in order to expand capacity while limiting the need for new
sites.
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he government also designs schemes to encourage local investment
in wind power projects in order to enhance community support.
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here is evidence that the NIMBY lessons learned by the government
in regard to onshore wind power projects have not been forgotten when
it comes to ofshore wind farm planning. Although Germany's irst of-
shore wind farm did not come online until 2009, as early as 2002 federal
authorities had initiated a research program designed to investigate ecologi-
cal impacts on the marine environment.
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Moreover, in 2005, the Ministry
of the Environment announced an intention to provide €50 million over a
period of ive years for R&D and environmental monitoring of a trial wind
farm located 45 km of Borkum.
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he intent of these initiatives is to under-
stand the unique environmental challenges that might arise as the focus
shifts from onshore to ofshore wind power development.
Despite social challenges to select wind power projects, Germany's envi-
ronmentally aware public still harbors a high degree of support for wind
power development. In fact, opinion polls have demonstrated that 20% to
35% of electricity consumers have a positive willingness to pay for renew-
able energy of any type.
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5.5.2 Economic
→
Political
In Germany, wind turbine manufacturing activities meshed perfectly with
Germany's competencies in engineering and machinery sectors, making
the wind power sector an employer of considerable promise. his changes
the basis upon which energy policy is decided because the employment
