East Tyrol defends itself: Does the wind power madness come to the mountains?

East Tyrol defends itself: Does the wind power madness come to the mountains?

In East Tyrol, increasing resistance is increasing against the plans for the construction of wind turbines, especially in Assling and the surrounding region. At a press conference on March 28, 2025, which took place in the Strasserwirt, the wind power opponent Ingo Ortner from Kötschach-Mauthen expressed the concerns of the residents. He emphasized that the opponents of wind power projects grow in Carinthia, even if it is often a "David against Goliath" fight. Ortner pointed out that East Tyrol is the focus of the wind power industry, especially through plans by Ecowind, a project advertiser from Lower Austria, to build a wind turbine in Assling.

The discussion about wind turbines on the compedal is particularly explosive because several planning offices are active in the region. Ekowind cooperates from time to time with the EVN (energy supply in Lower Austria) in various projects. The resistance focuses on the "Compedal without wind turbines" initiative, which is looking for support in neighboring communities. Robert Lukasser-Weitlaner, spokesman for this initiative, highlights the protection of nature as the top priority.

political dialogue and civil engagement

On August 12, 2024, representatives of the Assing Citizens' Initiative reported a meeting with Tirol's Energy Council Councilor Josef Geisler, in which the wind power industry in alpine regions was discussed in detail. There was agreement on the need for clear political framework in accordance with the requirements of the Paris climate agreement. However, Geisler expressed concerns about the economy of the wind power projects and their volatility on the electricity markets. The citizens' initiative is planning a referendum should not cooperate.

The Alpine Association of Austria, which with around 720,000 members represents a broad opposition to wind power projects in the Alps, confirms the massive interventions in the landscape that arise from such projects. Mag. Herbert Angerer, nature conservation officer of the association, emphasizes the overall social responsibility for the preservation of the high alpine landscape. The potential hazard of the Alpine Fauna, including birds of prey such as the stone eagle.

the nature lovers and wind power

Naturfreunde Austria, another important environmental protection organization with 150,000 members, demands that wind turbines are only built where no damage to nature or valuable landscapes is caused. Several arguments, including the destruction of untouched landscapes and the high construction costs, were brought up against the project. Nature lovers particularly critically assess the infrastructure and storage options for wind turbines in the Alpine region.

The Alpine region is under pressure through tourism, ski bids and construction projects. In this context, it is essential for numerous environmental activists to set binding limits for large -scale development in these sensitive areas. The non -profit association "Allianz for the Soul of the Alps" has already directed demands on politics on these topics.

Overall, the developments in East Tyrol show an alarming discussion about the correct use of nature and resources, in the area of tension between renewable energies and the protection of the unique alpine landscapes. It remains to be seen which decisions will make community policy and whether the voice of the population is sufficiently heard.

For more information on the backgrounds and developments, the articles from Dolomitenstadt , Alpenverein and Naturfreunde use.