Unterengadin defends itself against plans for wind farms

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In Lower Engadine there is opposition to the wind energy plans of the canton of Graubünden. This despite the fact that the canton initially only had possible locations for wind energy checked.

While most major tourist regions welcome the plans of the Graubünden government, the nature conservation organization Freie Landschaft Schweiz is sounding the alarm. Similar voices come from the Engadine. «Untouched nature is our capital as a holiday region. Tourists don’t want to see huge wind turbines here,” says Not Carl (74), former mayor of Scuol GR, and an attorney for energy issues.

Almost 300 new Facebook members in a few days

Carl is well known in the Engadine and just as well connected. He has already successfully fought for the development of the Engadine with fiber optic cables and is now pursuing a petition against wind energy installations in his valley.

Shortly after the canton’s plans became known, he therefore set up a Facebook group. After less than two weeks, the group has almost 300 members – a remarkable number for a sparsely populated area like the Engadine.

Fear of the tourists

According to Carl, most tourists come to the Lower Engadine from nearby Bavaria. And as you know, these are not big fans of wind turbines. Bavarian politicians have for years been strongly opposed to wind power plants and the German government’s plans for an energy transition.

For this reason, Carl fears that a large wind power plant could rob the Engadine of its main source of income: tourists from far and wide.

Too little wind and lots of sun

“I’m a big supporter of renewable energy,” he tells Blick. “But you have to generate the energy in the right place, with the right technology.” He alludes to a solar energy project he initiated at Scuol GR – this was unanimously accepted by the people.

This makes much more sense than huge wind turbines for two reasons. On the one hand, there is too much sun in Lower Engadine compared to the rest of Switzerland. And on the other hand, there is not enough wind.

And then there were the bearded vultures. The Lower Engadine is home to the largest Swiss colony of bearded vultures and the wind turbines pose a deadly threat to the once-extinct giant birds of prey. vulture killers,” says Carl. (sq)

Source:Blick