Citizens narrowly vote for wind turbine distance: SFS project failed!

Citizens narrowly vote for wind turbine distance: SFS project failed!

A close decision has had a decisive impact on the future of wind energy in Au SG. In a vote, 1,044 citizens (50.1 percent) voted for a minimum distance of 500 meters between houses and wind turbines, while 1,040 voters (49.9 percent) were against it. With this extremely narrow majority, the building regulations in the community were changed. Participation in the vote was 48.59 percent, as reported by vorarlberg.orf.at reported.

Consequences for SFS and the wind power project

The result of this initiative hits the SFS company in Heerbrugg hard: the planned wind turbine with a height of 220 meters, which was supposed to be used to supply the company's power supply in the industrial area, cannot now be realized. “If the initiative is accepted, SFS will no longer be able to pursue the project,” the company had explained in advance. Despite this decision, it is emphasized that it has no influence on other planned wind farms in the canton of St. Gallen. These are in the national interest and are anchored in the structure plan, as well nau.ch reported.

The canton of St. Gallen aims to generate around 300 gigawatt hours of electricity from wind turbines by 2050. This is to be implemented by building nine to twelve wind farms, 15 of which have already been approved. However, individual projects like that of SFS are bound to municipal regulations, while larger wind farms are subject to a cantonal special use plan.