Fight for bird protection: Dispute over wind power breaks out in Hümmerich!

Altus renewables GmbH (formerly Altus AG) is planning to build two wind turbines in the Hümmerich urban area of ​​Wissen. Originally, three wind turbines were planned, but the Koblenz Higher Administrative Court and the Nature Conservation Initiative (NI) from the Westerwald district are currently again dealing with a lawsuit regarding this approval. The lawsuit became necessary after approval for the planned wind turbines was granted.

The planned facilities are to be built in a landscape protection area and a European bird sanctuary, which is causing considerable concern among nature conservation organizations. The Nature Conservation Initiative e.V.'s objection to this approval was submitted to the Altenkirchen district administration via a specialist law firm. The NI particularly criticizes the shutdown times for the red kite, which are too short, and complains that the nature conservation requirements are not sufficiently taken into account.

Criticisms of the approval

In addition, it is pointed out that the measures ordered to protect species such as the black stork are considered inadequate. According to the Higher Administrative Court of Rhineland-Palatinate, the additional provisions must be designed in such a way that disruption to the bird sanctuary is minimized. The court made it clear that the goals of species protection are just as important as those of climate protection. In certain cases, nature conservation takes priority over the use of wind power, particularly in areas with numerous species conservation conflicts.

The nature conservation initiative states that the two wind turbines significantly increase the risk of killing the red kite during its stay, while the assumption that the black stork is only affected by rotating wind turbines is viewed as technically untenable. The black stork is considered a species sensitive to disturbance, and significant interference with its habitat can lead to it being discouraged. The NI therefore demands that bird sanctuaries serve to protect birds and not promote their industrialization.