German Farmers' Association calls for fundamental changes in transition to renewables

(SeeNews) – Sep 5, 2012 – The German Farmers’ Association called for an amended grid expansion plan and compensation scheme while criticising the federal government’s way of carrying out the transition to renewable energies.

The association claims that the grid expansion for the transition proceeds without due consideration of the farmers’ interests.

First, the development plan for the grid expansion should better reflect the structure of German agriculture and handle agricultural land and forestry in an economically adequate way, the association said.

Second, the association asked for a nature conservation compensation scheme which is not requiring use of additional land but rather uses money for the unsealing or upgrading of existing protected areas.

Third, the association called for a revamp of the compensation rules and the introduction of a recurring usage fee which, as according to their estimations would only mean an additional annual burden of EUR 0.2862 (USD 0.361) per average household.

The association also warned that without fundamentally improving the compensation schemes, the grid expansion could be delayed by the lack of acceptance of those affected.

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