Wind turbines can be built; The first trees fall in the Reinhardswald

Green light for one of the largest but most controversial wind farm projects in Hesse. By the end of next year, 18 wind turbines with a height of around 240 meters are to be built in the Reinhardswald – and supply electricity for around 75,000 households.

The regional council of Kassel has given the appropriate approval for the 142 million euro project - the decision comprises around 270 pages. The process took around two and a half years.

Construction preparations are already starting

"The approval is a milestone," says wind farm manager Ralf Paschold. According to FFH information, the first construction preparations are already starting today. Around 250 beeches and several spruces are felled. Due to bark beetles and storms, there are only a few trees left in the affected forest area anyway. In return, around 75,000 households could be supplied with green electricity in the future.

Criticism from the German Forest Protection Association

Bernhard Klug from the German Forest Protection Association, on the other hand, told the FFH: "The Reinhardswald is bleeding." Although there are currently only a few trees on the areas, new ones could grow again. The forest plays an important role for the environment and species protection. This is endangered by the construction of wind turbines. We reserve the right to take legal action.

Planning for ten years

Ten years ago, the Reinhardwald wind farm project began to take shape. At that time, nine municipalities were involved in the energy cooperative for the wind farm, but now only four are on board with Grebenstein, Immenhausen, Trendelburg and Fuldatal. Other investors are Stadtwerke Kassel, EAM and Stadtwerke Eschwege.

Wind energy in northern Hesse: 444 wind turbines are currently being operated in the administrative district of Kassel. In 2021, 24 wind turbines were approved in the area. In 2020 there were 5 wind turbines.

Much criticism of the project

The wind power project in the forest was controversial from the start. For example, the "Save the Reinhardwald" initiative was founded to prevent the construction of wind turbines. As part of the public participation, 690 objections were raised by 736 objectors to the project.

No wind turbines in the "fairytale forest"

There were also protest actions by artists in the Reinhardswald. Again and again there was talk of the "fairytale forest" being destroyed. However, according to the wind farm operator, this is not the case. "The plans extend between the "Farrenplatz" and the "Langenberg" in the northern Reinhardswald at a sufficient distance from the tourist valuable areas around the jungle or the Sababurg zoo," it says.

Translation into English using Google Translate