Collision on wind turbines is imminent in Utrecht province

• Judith van de Hulsbeek

  Climate and Energy editor

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  Helen Ekker

  Climate and Energy editor

The Dutch Environmental Assessment Agency warned today that time is running out for plans for onshore wind and solar power generation. It is striking that many municipalities do not embrace regional climate targets, certainly not since the last municipal elections. This is very clear in Utrecht, where the province and the municipalities are heading towards a confrontation on wind turbines.

The province had called on municipalities to submit more wind power plans and gave them six months to do so, until December 1. But now that that period has passed, it seems municipalities haven’t crossed the bridge enough.

Utrecht is the province with the fewest windmills (15) and he now says he will designate places for them if needed. Reluctant municipalities and lack of support are one cause of impending stagnation. Other causes are problems with the electricity grid and lack of sufficient manpower to build wind turbines.

Municipalities and provinces have already agreed on how much sustainable energy they want to generate. But municipalities sometimes back down, says provincial administrator Huib van Essen (climate and energy). “Now that it’s becoming more concrete, you see municipalities backing off a bit and saying: not here.” In some localities, political parties opposed to windmills were also elected to the city council.

If it depends on him, the province will continue to collaborate with the municipalities, but not at all costs. “If there aren’t enough projects from all the municipalities together, we will take the responsibility to make a choice and say: these are the most suitable places to carry out the wind plans”. The province believes that many more localities may be suitable than municipalities.

Van Essen says he understands resistance to wind turbines. “At the same time, I also see a lot of people who are very concerned about climate change. They say: government, take the gauntlet, make choices and make sure there is room for clean energy. We have this task too.” In doing so, the province will look for locations that have as little impact on local residents or nature as possible.

One municipality that does not want wind power within its borders is De Ronde Venen. Marcelle Buitendam is a council member of Ronde Venen Belang, which became the largest political party in municipal elections. She is also involved in the action group against wind turbines Red de Plassen. It regrets that the province, if necessary, designates locations for wind turbines.

“If the province unilaterally mandates to install wind turbines here, of course we will not agree. We hope we can solve the problem with a de-escalation path, but there will be no wind turbines in De Ronde Venen,” says Buitendam. His party is concerned about the health effects of wind turbines and possible effects on nature. The party also wants more wind turbines to be placed at sea first if possible.

Ronde Venen Belang wants to focus on more solar energy, both on the roofs and on the ground. Early next year, talks will begin with local residents for the first location where a solar field can be built. De Ronde Venen is not alone in this, many more municipalities would rather focus on solar fields than wind turbines.

But according to the province, the large-scale use of solar energy leads to more problems with the electricity grid than a mix of solar and wind energy. “It’s important that there is a better balance between sun and wind, because the wind blows more often than the sun,” says Van Essen. “That means you can carry much more energy for an entire year through the same cable if you do it with a windmill than if you do it with a solar array.”

MP Van Essen sees that the province is sometimes asked for help. “There are also municipalities that tell us: We recognize the image that we as municipalities sometimes have a tendency to move wind turbines to neighbors. So provinces, help us with this, to find the right locations at the level of the entire province. select. “