The plan to impose a minimum distance of up to 1,100 metres (in the case of large turbines) between new wind developments and the nearest housing comes as a concession in the coalition contract for a new state government to the Free Democrats (FDP) which are entering the government after elections in March.

The FDP had campaigned against the rapid expansion of wind power in the southern German state under the previous government between the Social Democrats (SPD) and Greens that has now lost its majority and needs the FDP in a three-way coalition to continue in power.