An impending distance-rule in Germany’s most populous state could bring new wind installations to an almost complete standstill, the wind industry fears ahead of a decree by the North Rhine Westphalia state government.
A new state government of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats (CDU) and the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) after state elections in May – which could be a blue-print for Germany’s next federal government after elections on 24 September – is about to issue a rule that would forbid new wind parks in forested areas and closer than 1.5km
