Baden-Württemberg’s Ministry of the Environment and the Bundeswehr are arguing about helicopter training routes. Minister Walker sees the routes as a threat to the expansion of wind energy. The Bundeswehr does not want to let that stand.
Bonn/Stuttgart (dpa/lsw) – The Bundeswehr has defended itself against the allegations by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of the Environment that wind farm plans are being jeopardized by helicopter training routes in the Altdorf forest. A spokeswoman for the Federal Office for Infrastructure, Environmental Protection and Services of the German Armed Forces in Bonn said they were not informed about the plans there. As a rule, they are informed in advance and agree to the projects in 93 percent of the cases. On average, one is involved in 500 procedures per year.
Environment Minister Thekla Walker (Greens) was upset on Thursday about an expansion of the squadron’s exercise routes in Laupheim. She complained that this threatened one of the largest wind farm projects in Baden-Württemberg in the Altdorf forest (Ravensburg district). This was only noticed by current maps from the year 2022. She vented her dissatisfaction with two letters to the federal government. The exercise routes would lead to a number of restrictions on the expansion of wind power.
The Bundeswehr explained that the so-called low-level helicopter flight route network has existed for decades and is currently being revised. The exercise routes of Helicopter Squadron 64 in Laupheim were already there. Because 15 new helicopters had been purchased there, the routes had been reactivated. The Bundeswehr supports the energy transition and advocates the expansion of renewable energies, provided that the specific projects do not conflict with military or security concerns.
