Suche
Mein Konto
Resistance to XXL substation: Farmers fear loss of arable land!
The planned construction of a Tennet substation in Wetterau is causing resistance. Agriculture and the environment are the focus of the debate.
Resistance to XXL substation: Farmers fear loss of arable land!
Energy transition in the Wetterau: Growing concerns in agriculture
In the idyllic Wetterau, one of the most fertile areas in Germany, plans to build a substation have met with strong criticism. The Wetterau-Frankfurt regional farmers' association (RBV) has addressed the planners with clear demands, while resistance to the project among the population is increasing. The plan is to build a substation on an area of 30 hectares south of Beienheim by 2035 - the equivalent of 43 football fields. According to the information from FNP and Hesse show The project impresses many because it not only changes the landscape, but also has far-reaching consequences for agriculture.
The chairwoman of the RBV, Andrea Rahn-Farr, recognizes the need for a stable energy supply, but urgently calls for changes to the plans. “We cannot afford to endanger our best soils,” she says, pointing to the association’s three central demands:
- Die Fläche für das Umspannwerk soll verkleinert werden, indem alternative Technologien eingesetzt werden, auch wenn dies für Tennet teurer wird.
- Der Verzicht auf zusätzliche Ausgleichsflächen ist notwendig. Stattdessen sollten bestehende Ökopunkte genutzt werden, um weitere landwirtschaftliche Flächen zu schonen.
- Eine erneute Prüfung alternativer Standorte ist erforderlich, um hochwertige Ackerböden nicht in Gefahr zu bringen.
Village life in danger or a necessary energy transition?
Mayor Lena Herget from Reichelsheim has also spoken out against the location of the planned substation. It calls for the use of existing infrastructure and a review of other locations. “The loss of 30 hectares of valuable arable land not only affects direct residents, but also has an impact on the entire region,” she emphasizes. The challenges for agriculture are significant, especially since many farmers do not own the affected land. This can strain the resources of other companies.
The CDU parliamentary group in the community also expresses concerns and would like to clarify what benefits the substation will bring to the community and what additional burdens can be expected. The energy transition is one of the priority goals of politics, but it must be designed to be environmentally friendly and space-saving. Tennet, on the other hand, emphasizes that distances to closed residential developments and proximity to existing substations must be taken into account during planning.
Finding a balance: agriculture and network expansion
As the head of the network expansion department at the Federal Network Agency, Matthias Otte, explains in one of his statements, network expansion often leads through agricultural areas. He emphasizes that it is important for agriculture to coexist with the necessary network expansion. Because around half of Germany is used for agriculture. It is crucial that the negative impact on production and the soil is kept as low as possible ( Federal Ministry of Economics ).
The debate about the substation in Wetterau shows that the balance between the necessary energy supply and the protection of fertile soil is a major challenge. Both farmers and politicians are called upon to find solutions that take both ecological and economic interests into account.