In Reinhardswald, the “fairytale forest” in northern Hesse, construction work for a dilapidated wind farm is in full swing. Heavy construction machinery scurries along the forest paths, clearing everything in its path. Herman Josef Rapp from the Märchenland Reinhardswald association is known as the voice of the Reinhardswald. The forester and conservationist has been the deputy head of the Reinhardshagen forestry office for ten years, knows the Reinhardswald down to the last tree, has written the cultural history of it and is now having to watch as the forest is being destroyed.
And how is it that the Greens are literally destroying the green? It turns out to be a kind of satire and play on words. They’re always very much in favour of climate protection, they’ve converted the whole country to idiotic green energy, and now it’s not clear what to do and how to bring our country back to an appropriate state, so they are just picking a forest and destroying it for their wind farm, which doesn’t really work. Obviously so that it just stands there instead of the forest. Isn’t that hypocritical? It’s long been clear to everyone that they don’t care about nature, they just want to destroy our country with their idiotic crazy ideas.
Forest citizens on the move – for a healthy forest without wind turbines
A new citizens’ initiative in Thuringia is trying to preserve and protect the forest. Enthusiasts and environmental activists have come together to campaign for the reforestation and protection of forest areas in the green heart of Germany. But the danger is acute and real: the wind knights want to seize it.
The Germans love their forest. Not only in terms of its natural and economic functions, but also as a symbol of a life close to nature. More and more people are networking and joining forces to resist, as the wind power bandits want to access more of the forested heights due to the lack of free areas in the south. For politicians, the media and the lobby, forests now seem dispensable. There is disparaging talk of “timber” (Brandenburg’s Minister of Economic Affairs Steinbach, SPD) or “tree-covered industrial areas” (Brandenburg’s Green Minister of the Environment Vogel on the Tesla forest). The traffic light government has designated wind and solar energy as the final stage of energy technology development. This makes us unique in the world, whilst fully catering to the wishes of the relevant lobbies. Numerous changes to the law are paving the way for Germany’s transformation into a wind and solar industrial area.
The reason given is “climate protection”, which is misleading. The government is pursuing an anti-nuclear policy. If it was serious about reducing emissions, it would have expanded nuclear power and allowed clean coal technologies to be developed further. The true core of its interest-led policy is revealed in the recurring demand: “We need more renewables”. Who benefits from this?
Fear is spreading among the population, fear of a destruction of nature on a gigantic scale with irreparable damage in some cases. The existing turbines are only the beginning. In northern Germany, the wind farms are largely spread out, but the government wants rotors all over the country. The south is mostly mountainous and often forested. It makes no sense to build the turbines in valleys, building on slopes would be impractical and expensive, so the hilltops and ridges remain.
On the offense – a few examples
The huge Altdorf Forest (82 square kilometres) in Baden-Württemberg is mostly state forest, as well as ancient woodland, a large drinking water reservoir and the former home of the robber Hotzenplotz. He is long gone, and now timber robbers and wind knights want to take action. 39 Vestas V172 turbines, each with an installed capacity of 7.2 megawatts, a hub height of 199 metres and a total height of 285 metres, are to be built on the ridge, which is not just a visual horror. It is unlikely that the state government will intervene in a moderating manner to protect nature and people. Green works. Although the mountain ridges reach 700 to 800 metres, the average wind speed of 5 to 6 metres per second is anything but favourable. The reference yield model in the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) provides extra funding for turbines at locations with low wind speeds, which is economic nonsense and will probably not be enough in the Altdorf Forest in view of permanently rising turbine prices.
In Hesse’s Reinhardswald, the fairytale forest of the Grimm brothers, the harvesters are already tearing up the forest floor and felling as much as they can. Some of the trees are almost 200 years old. Half a hectare to a whole hectare of trees have to be removed before thousands of tonnes of reinforced concrete can be sunk into the ground. At least 18 turbines, each 240 metres high, are to be erected – as the first construction phase.
The lobby also wants to make money from moving air in the Arnsberg Forest Nature Park, known as the “Westphalian Sea of Forests” and one of the largest contiguous forest areas in Germany. 12 units are planned, 60,000 households could be supplied according to the advertising brochure. Here, too, the lobby is playing the fool by claiming that wind turbines can “supply”. They can only feed in electricity – sometimes more, sometimes less, sometimes nothing at all.
EnBW wants to erect 27 turbines in the Lower Lusatian forest near Neisse-Malxetal, south of Forst. A hub height of 162 metres and a height of more than 250 metres to the tip of the blade are to dominate the flat land and the forest will have to give way. An electrolyser is being used to counter the argument of a lack of security of supply, but it is not yet clear how large it will be and where it will be located. EnBW is in green hands, so consideration for nature is not to be expected. Nor is there any consideration for people, as the turbines are to be located up to 700 metres from the village of Jerischke. A little further north, the energy company LEAG wants to erect 17 turbines of the 6 megawatt class on former open-cast mining land in front of the village of Briesnig on the Neisse. Instead of the previously planned renaturalisation and reforestation, it will remain industrial land.
These are just examples. At present, the Thuringian Forest is on the agenda of the green capitalists. The 170-kilometre Rennsteig ridge trail is a prime example. This brings people to the trees, but also to the realisation that something must be done to avert lasting damage. Above all, damaged areas caused by drought and pests need to be reforested, also to dispel the lobby’s argument that the turbines would not destroy any forest in these areas, as there is currently no forest there.
This is what the forest citizen initiative “The forest is calling!” – Thuringia is endeavouring to achieve with forest maintenance and reforestation programmes. It is expressly non-partisan. Anyone in favour of an intact and free forest naturally also wants it to be free of wind power. For this reason, I am taking part in a tour of Thuringian towns to talk to as many citizens as possible. Members of the initiative are joining us at each location to provide support.
On the move
It starts in Ilmenau, our pavilion stands on the square at the Apothekerbrunnen. The forest citizens explain their concerns to passers-by and present an open letter to the district councillors. If there are any questions about wind power, I am happy to provide information. It regards the amount of material required for wind power, a huge amount. Yes, the foundations today weigh almost 3,500 tonnes of reinforced concrete and the nacelle (the nacelle with generator) of a 7.5 megawatt turbine, together with the hub and rotor, weighs around 660 tonnes. By comparison, an ICE weighs 410 to 470 tonnes, depending on the type.
In addition, the systems are oversized in the sense that they only reach full output for a few hours a year, i.e. on an annual average they only deliver around 20 per cent of their nominal output.
On the market square in Gotha, below the magnificent Friedenstein Castle, formerly belonging to the noble families of Saxe-Gotha and Altenburg, later those of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, we have a microphone and speakers at our disposal. So we can talk about the initiative and the problems of wind power and the whole square, including the guests of the open-air catering, can listen. Interested parties stop and many conversations ensue.
Like in many places, one topic leads to another. Covid is still deep in our minds, as are the sometimes misguided measures. The state’s rigid approach and the lack of reappraisal are causing enormous frustration. Anyone who talks about losing trust in politicians is wrong, it simply does not exist.
Is wind power sustainable, the question is asked. No, how can something that is temporarily not even there be sustainable? Moreover, they are material-intensive with a service life of only 20 to 30 years. Coal-fired power plants can run for over 50 years, nuclear power plants for over 60.
We spend the night in Bischofroda, a small village north of Eisenach. The organic farmer reports that the weather has changed since the wind turbines have been operating nearby. It is raining less. The Mihla wind farm is only two kilometres away, behind a hill, but still clearly visible. On Google Earth, I count 30 large turbines blocking the wind in front of the village.
The journey continues to Eisenach. The forest residents provide information about the mix of seedlings they are planting to create an optimal mixed forest for future generations. Here too, current and former forest residents talk about changes in the weather. This happened abruptly with the commissioning of wind turbines in the area. Here, too, it is said that there is less rain. Someone says they know that the German Weather Service (DWD) has had a department dealing with this for a long time. But its work is internal and confidential.
But where will the electricity come from if no windmills are built? Counter question: Where will the electricity come from if there is no wind? Why didn’t we have these problems in the past? What are the neighbouring countries doing? Isn’t nuclear power too dangerous? No, it is actually the safest energy technology in terms of “deaths per terawatt hour”. Interested and affected parties exchange numbers and network. That is also a success.
The pavilion is set up on the edge of the market square in small but beautiful Schmalkalden. The forest citizens provide information about the forest holiday camps for children, where they learn exciting things about nature from wilderness educators, build leaf huts, cook and plant seedlings.
Do wind turbines lead to more drought? In principle, yes, four factors are at work: the energy extraction lowers the wind speed, thus reducing cloud cover and precipitation. The turbulence of the air leads to vertical air transport, which transports soil moisture upwards and away, and the soil also remains warmer. The obstructed equalisation of pressure between high and low pressure areas tends to increase the air pressure and leads to more dry weather conditions. Finally, the sealing of the ground by foundations, access roads and assembly sites hinders groundwater formation.
Dutch tourists are intrigued by the map showing the distribution of wind turbines in Germany. They have enough of them in their country and know the problems and disadvantages. Their new nuclear power stations will come too late, they say. Their bigger problem is the destruction of their agriculture, they feel like a colony of the EU. Will the new elections bring any improvement? Perhaps. In any case, they like Thuringia and are happy to listen to advice about other holiday destinations. I recommend the Spreewald, of course. The evening sun is beating down, it’s hot. My gaze wanders over the market square – no, no heat deaths.
The forest holiday camp project is also arousing interest in Meiningen in the Werra Valley. Wouldn’t it be better to leave the forest to its own devices and rely on its natural ability to regenerate? No, that would not achieve the biodiversity of a new mixed forest.
What happens to wind turbines at the end of their life, are they really completely disposed of? Most of them, such as the tower, nacelle and installations, can be recycled, but the foundations have to be removed in accordance with building law. However, this is at the discretion of the state authorities. In Schleswig-Holstein, for example, removal is only required up to one metre below ground level. The underground soil sealing then remains in place. There is still no suitable technology for the thousands of tonnes of old rotor blades that will be produced in the future. Until now, they have been shredded and incinerated in cement rotary kilns. The quantities that can be disposed of in this way are clearly limited.
At the Diana Fountain in Suhl, there are many discussions that go beyond the topic of forests and wind power. The Chairwoman of the Environment Committee in the Thuringian state parliament provides information on the state of the Thuringian forest. Of the 30,000 hectares of damaged state forest, only 6,000 have been reforested; the forestry offices are simply overwhelmed by the volume problem. So far, only two of the 861 wind turbines in Thuringia are located in the forest, which is creating demand. At information events, citizens report that wind power investors are reaching for the bottom argumentation drawers. “Would you prefer a nuclear power plant on top of the mountain?” – It doesn’t get any more stupid than that.
The “reach” of oil and gas are an issue; there is a consensus that it will last longer than assumed. The book “Biosphäre der heißen Tiefe” by Thomas Gold is recommended for further reading. Unfortunately, it is not currently available anywhere.
Here, too, there is great dissatisfaction with the coalition government, and some are certain that the climate lockdown is coming. As elsewhere, a large number of the interviewees come out as non-voters.
On our trips, we see many ruined areas, wind-broken trees, deadwood and ground ploughed up by harvesters. The trunks lying in masses in the clearings are large in diameter and look healthy. Are the state forestry organisation and private forest owners trying to do good business here under a pretext?
Off to Sonneberg. Wasn’t there something there? Right, the district with the only democratically certified district administrator in Germany. We are standing at PIKO-Platz, which is a reminder of Sonneberg’s role as the toy capital of the GDR. I involuntarily take a closer look at the people. Is there a hoof stuck in a shoe somewhere, is there a horn hidden under some baseball caps or is there a slight smell of sulphur in the air? None of that, the people look just like anywhere else. The open-air café is occupied by a few tourists, many pensioners and people with a migrant background and past.
The Forest Citizens provide information about their summer programme. One lady says that the electricity problem can be solved by being thrifty and going without. Has she told the people in the queue at the food bank? The dialogue expands, but we don’t reach an agreement.
A gust of wind knocks over the bar table and blows away some of our flyers from the citizens’ initiative and Vernunftkraft. A few young people of southern descent are quickly on hand to help clean up.
In the former royal seat of Rudolstadt, we are once again welcomed by the hot afternoon sun below Heidecksburg Castle. Numerous supporters have come and there are in-depth discussions. In the USA, so-called geo-engineering is already being practised to combat the rise in temperature. Will they be able to deal with the ghosts they are calling? In other words, the risks and side effects?
There is another citizens’ initiative in the city that is taking a stand against a planned ground-mounted PV plant. It was set up to prevent a battery recycling plant in the city. This was crowned with success. Now the aim here, as in Hohensaaten an der Oder, is to prevent ecologically dead PV areas.
On to the finale in the state capital of Erfurt. There is a lot of pedestrian traffic on the Anger, but the ignorance of the city dwellers towards us is great. The connection to the local forest is naturally less pronounced here.
The forest – ecosystem, economic factor, place of longing
There is an exchange of ideas with forest-loving citizens from the Harz Mountains and Baden-Württemberg. How much CO2 does a wind turbine actually save? None, because the German EEG and the European Emissions Trading System (ETS) work in opposite directions. The certificates are capped in quantity, so if German wind power displaces coal-fired power, certificates are left over and sold. The emissions then take place elsewhere. Wind power in the forest even has a negative CO2 balance, as the trees destroy CO2 sinks.
Nevertheless, there is often a lack of interest. It is noticeable that the conversation is mostly with older people. Young people and people with a migration background are almost universally uninterested in the topic. A woman with a Soviet-Georgian background signs the petition. In the meantime, there is also a draft letter to the district foresters.
A little further on is a WWF (World Wide Fund For Nature) pavilion. Three very young people are handing out flyers. I bring over flyers from us and ask if they know the consequences of wind power in the forest and why the WWF supports it. The answer I get is that the WWF is an international organisation …
We pack up in the pouring rain and the tour ends. In the evening there is a lecture in the “Hofbräu am Dom” on the subject of wind power. Even if you were to fill the whole country, including the Sanssouci Park in Potsdam, the English Garden in Munich and the Tiergarten in Berlin, it would never be enough.
There is a lack of understanding about the energy policy of the German government(s). What can we do, we are asked several times. I have to pass. Everyone has to form their own opinion and draw their own conclusions. That can mean stockpiling supplies, thinking about an emergency power supply or getting involved in politics. Putting pressure on local members of the state and federal parliaments could help.
Then an eventful and exhausting week comes to an end. I would like to pay tribute to the Thuringian forest citizens who are tackling a major task with enthusiasm and confidence. I hope that they will grow, that a movement with many active members and supporters will emerge that can also network nationwide and thus have an impact. This is important so that forest citizens do not become wild or angry citizens. In contrast to the radicalising climate campaigners, they are cultivated and focused on the cause. They know how important the forest is and they love their forest.
Source: Tichy’s insight
