Uprising against wind power: Tiroller citizens are demanding protection of nature!

Uprising against wind power: Tiroller citizens are demanding protection of nature!

Tirol, Österreich - The debate about the expansion of wind power in Tyrol has gained intensity. FPÖ state party chairman Markus Abwerzger criticized the recent wind power potential analysis of the Tyrolean state government from 2023 as a "pleasure study", which hardly took into account the effects on flora and fauna. According to FPÖ, wind power projects not only endanger birds and bats, as the biologist Christine Miller confirms in her report, but also the Tyrolean landscape and forest paths. Abwerzger announced an urgency request to stop these projects in the next state parliament meeting, such as .

The Tyrolean state government, on the other hand, emphasizes that technical and economic progress increased wind power potential in the region to 800 to 1,200 gigawatt hours. In theory, this could cover 3,3 to 4.9 percent of the current energy requirement, says Governor Anton Mattle. The promotion of wind measurements is intended to boost the construction of wind turbines. In addition, a bonus of up to 100,000 euros is promised for the first wind turbine built in Tyrol, which could be in the wind power plans for a positive turn. The state government hopes for an energy mix that, in addition to wind power, also relies on hydropower and photovoltaics in order to become more independent by fossil fuels by 2050, as can be read in a message from the Tyrolean state government tirol.gv.at.

The wind power in Tyrol, which is available according to current wind measurements, are particularly concentrated on altitudes between 1,000 and 2,300 meters, while the valley layers are not very suitable due to unfavorable conditions. Despite the increasing interest and the support of the state government, there are currently only a few concrete projects that are due in the region to implement it. It remains to be seen whether the wind power in alpine tirol will actually move in.