"New legal situation"

FPÖ: “Stop button” for new wind turbines in Carinthia

The dispute over wind turbines in Carinthia has gained another facet: now wind power projects for which the procedure is already underway could also be shaken. Both FP leader Erwin Angerer and the FP's legal expert speak of a "new legal situation".

"We don't want to demolish any existing wind turbines. There has only ever been talk of more wind turbines," explains FP leader Erwin Angerer and threatens with a view to ongoing proceedings. "Of course projects can be refused approval." He bases this on "the new legal situation" that has existed since the legally non-binding referendum: "Parliament must act now and amend the Energy Transition Act." The "stop button" must be pressed for new procedures anyway.

"We need to discuss how to deal with ongoing projects. It is possible to stop them in the process. It would be conceivable to reimburse the legal costs," explains the FP's legal expert, Christoph Urtz. However, the financial law expert does not only lecture on questions of constitutional law: "Deindustrialization will mean that less energy will be needed." No great consolation for large Carinthian companies such as Infineon or Treibacher Industrie, whose board members have explicitly spoken out in favor of wind power.

Angerer also sharply criticizes the round table that took place last Thursday: apart from the FP, there were only "wind power lobbyists" there. Citizens' initiatives and the Alpine Association were missing - the latter had been invited to a separate discussion with the provincial government.