Renewable energy development is strategic national priority - PM

RIGA - The development of renewable energy resources is a strategic national priority related to energy independence, economic development and security, therefore solutions must be balanced and legally correct, Prime Minister Evika Silina (New Unity) told LETA, commenting on disagreements between local governments and ministries on wind parks.

Last week, the Board of the Latvian Association of Local Governments (LPS) called on Silina to immediately cancel the orders of Smart Administration and Regional Development Minister Raimonds Cudars (New Unity) to suspend the spatial plans of Bauska and Preili municipalities.

The politician did not directly answer the question whether the orders would be cancelled, but stressed that the Smart Administration and Regional Development Ministry together with the Climate and Energy Ministry should organize meetings with municipalities affected by wind park development issues in order to jointly explain the regulation and seek balanced solutions.

As reported, Smart Administration and Regional Development Minister Raimonds Cudars (New Unity) has partially suspended the spatial plans of Bauska and Preili municipalities due to what he considers illegal restrictions on the production of renewable energy resources.

The minister has identified significant legal and substantive shortcomings, and therefore issued orders to suspend the implementation of the Bauska municipality spatial plan and the binding regulations of the Preili municipality spatial plan in parts that, without sufficient data, research and legal justification, set disproportionate restrictions on the development of renewable energy resources (RES), commercial activities and the exercise of private rights.

"Spatial plans must be data-driven, proportionate and legally justified. Local authorities have a wide discretion in spatial planning, but should not impose vague, unjustified or excessive restrictions that significantly restrict the property rights of individuals and hinder the achievement of the overall national objectives," says Cudars.

The ministry's assessment of the spatial plans of the two municipalities concluded that the restrictions they impose are incompatible with the RES-oriented economic specialization of the municipalities' sustainable development strategies.

In view of the national policy to promote the development of RES production, the plans contain solutions that, in general, significantly limit the development of RES, contradicting the national objectives of strengthening energy independence and the transition to renewable resources.

In a number of cases, the rules are formulated in a legally vague manner, with subjective criteria to be interpreted, which makes it difficult for individuals to foresee the legal consequences and hampers the implementation of development plans.

EWE Neue Energien 2 has submitted to the State Environmental Service (VVD) a plan for the construction of 17 wind power plants (WPP) in the territories of Bauska and Jelgava municipalities, and the VVD has started the environmental impact assessment procedure.

The municipality provided an official response in October last year, stating that most of the planned wind park area is located on agricultural land of national importance, where such construction is not allowed. The municipality believes that the project does not comply with the existing spatial plan and that the zoning should not be changed.

The Latvian subsidiaries of the Danish wind energy group Eurowind Energy plan to build two wind farms in Dienvidkurzeme region, as well as in the Bauska and Jelgava municipalities, according to information on the website of the already dissolved Energy and Environment Agency (EVA).

In the Preili municipality, Latvenergo is planning to build a wind farm in Riebini.