Wind power for Sembach: Communities benefit from a new system

Wind power for Sembach: Communities benefit from a new system

In 2024, the SWK Stadtwerke Kaiserslautern acquired a wind turbine that is located in the immediate vicinity of the Sembach industrial area. This initiative is particularly remarkable because it not only promotes the municipal utility company, but also opens up financial benefits for seven surrounding communities. These municipalities, which include Enkenbach-Alsenborn, Gonbach, Mehlingen, Münchweiler an der Alsenz, Neuhemsbach, Sembach and Wartenberg-Rohrbach, can look forward to additional income that will be provided as part of the new Renewable Energy Sergien law (EEG).

Thanks to a new regulation in § 6 EEG, all municipalities benefit within a radius of 2.5 kilometers around the wind energy system from the time of the acquisition. In the current year, a payment of around 10,000 euros will be made to the affected places. This represents significant support for the respective households and promotes acceptance for the expansion of renewable energies in the region.

goals and responsibility of the SWK

dr. Arvid Blume, the board of the SWK Stadtwerke Kaiserslautern, underlined the responsibility of the municipal utilities at the energy transition. He said: "Our goal and our responsibility is - also with regard to the quality of life of coming generations - to promote the energy transition." The financial participation of the residents should not only increase acceptance for new projects in the region, but it is also ensured that the advantages of the winds benefit all citizens.

This step towards promoting renewable energies is considered important, since the region is increasingly dependent on sustainable solutions and technologies in order to meet the requirements for environmentally conscious energy production. Stadtwerke position themselves as a strong partner for the future, both in energy generation and in cooperation with the communities.

The formal signing of the contract took place on November 20, 2024. On this day, representatives of the municipal utility company met with the local citizens from the affected communities, including Jürgen Wenzel (Enkenbach-Alsenborn), Bernd Schiebel (Gonbach), Kristina Zick (Mehlingen), Tanja Dautermann (Münchweiler an der Alsenz), Silke Brunck (Neuhemsbach), Peter Beutler (Sembach) and Axel Erbach (Wartenberg-Rohrbach). This underlines the close cooperation and the commitment between the municipal utilities and the municipalities to shape the energy transition together.

The SWK Stadtwerke Kaiserslautern thus proves to be a pioneer in the region by relying on innovative approaches to promote renewable energies and at the same time improving the financial situation of the surrounding communities. The combination of financial support for the municipalities and the commitment to sustainable energy use laid the foundation for a positive development in the region, as well as www.wochenblatt-reporter.de reported.