Politicians don't have much time left. The money for freezing electricity prices will eventually run out.
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- The most important thing is to prevent price increases, to secure our energy needs, and not to think about reducing them, because this does nothing but add more money to cover costs that we have no control over - points out Kazimierz Pławszewski, mayor of Wielowieś commune, who believes that the regulations regarding wind turbines should be changed.
Dawid Litwin, chairman of the Association of Renewable Energy-Friendly Municipalities and mayor of the Potęgowo commune, speaks of a step back for the development of renewable energy sources in Poland and accuses the president of lacking substantive arguments.
The mayor of Halinów and president of the Association of Polish Local Governments, Adam Ciszkowski, expressed his understanding for Karol Nawrocki's decision, but he hoped for a quick compromise both on the issue of wind farms and energy prices.
On Thursday, August 21, President Karol Nawrocki announced his veto of the amendment to the so-called wind farm law, which liberalized the rules for investing in this form of onshore energy, but also provided for an extension of the electricity price freeze mechanism for households until the end of 2025 (according to current regulations, it is valid until the end of September).
On Thursday, August 21, President Karol Nawrocki announced his veto of the amendment to the so-called wind farm law (Photo: Mikołaj Bujak/KPRP)
The amendment abolished the 10H rule introduced in 2016 and introduced 500 meters as the minimum permissible distance for wind turbines from residential buildings, subject to the consent of residents and the municipal council (currently 700 meters) . According to the government, this was intended to, among other things, revitalize the wind farm investment market, which in the long term would result in lower energy prices.
The provision regarding freezing electricity prices was only introduced into this bill in June. The government explained that due to the upcoming summer break in the Sejm, there would be insufficient time to pass a separate bill on this issue to maintain the mechanism's continued operation.
President Nawrocki on blackmail, criticism from the prime minister. Both sides announce new projects
Outgoing President Andrzej Duda was not a supporter of the changes concerning wind farms, nor was his successor Karol Nawrocki, so the opposition commented that combining the two issues was a deliberate ploy.
" This bill is a form of blackmail by the parliamentary majority and the government. (...) It concerns wind turbines, not lowering electricity prices," said President Nawrocki. "To lower electricity prices, we must abandon what most impacts electricity prices, namely the ETS – we must abandon the Green Deal. The attempt to construct a media or public construct that wind turbines and the entire renewable energy component will lower electricity prices is a false assumption."
Prime Minister Tusk and politicians from the ruling parties criticized the presidential veto. Both sides announced they would prepare new draft laws, including those concerning energy price freezes. The question is, will they be able to reach an agreement and adopt regulations that protect the interests of residents and local governments quickly enough to take effect in early October?
It's better to prevent price increases than to pay extra indefinitely. Will wider use of wind turbines lower them?
The mayor of the Wielowieś commune (Silesian Voivodeship), Kazimierz Pławszewski, comments for the Local Government Portal that a political tussle awaits us in the fall.
I believe that the most important thing is to prevent price increases, to secure our energy needs, and not to think about reducing them, because this does nothing but add more money to cover costs that we have no control over.
- he points out.
- If we don't deal with this, i.e. install some alternative energy, we can keep paying extra until we run out of money and have no energy sources - he adds.
- If we don't deal with this, i.e. install some alternative energy, we can keep paying extra until we run out of money and have no energy sources - comments Kazimierz Pławszewski (in the middle), mayor of Wielowieś commune (Photo: Wielowieś commune/Facebook)
According to the mayor, the entry into force of the provisions of the Wind Farm Act in the form in which it was submitted to the president for signature should increase the opportunities for investing in wind farms and should contribute to a general reduction in energy prices.
Local government and residents would have a real say in the implementation of wind turbine investments. "This law is better than what was there before."
In the Wielowieś commune, windmills are already standing.
"We're in the opposite situation, because unblocking the 500-meter distance would allow residents to build closer to the wind turbines," emphasizes Kazimierz Pławszewski. " The law stipulates this distance as a minimum, but the municipal council was ultimately responsible for the decision, so it could set, for example, 700, 800, or 1,000 meters within its own area. This way, the local government and residents would have real influence on these matters, and there would be no such top-down blocking. So I don't see a problem with it."
He adds that among the residents of the Wielowieś commune, who already experience the proximity of wind turbines, opinions are divided.
"Some communities don't mind them, but others complain about noise, flickering, or antenna interference. The direction matters because if you're looking from the south, there won't be any flickering, but if you're looking from the west, the flickering effect will occur at sunset," explains the mayor, emphasizing that local communities and local governments have the best insight into the situation in their areas and should be the ones to decide what conditions to adopt.
He also draws attention to the issue of compensation for people living within a certain radius of a wind farm. "This is also something we didn't experience during the construction phase here. That's why I think this law is better than what we had before," he concludes.
Dawid Litwin: This is a step backward for the development of renewable energy sources in Poland
Dawid Litwin, chairman of the board of the Association of Renewable Energy-Friendly Municipalities and mayor of the Potęgowo commune (Pomeranian Voivodeship), gives an unequivocally negative assessment of the president's decision - and he does not mince his words, calling it a step backward for the development of renewable energy sources in Poland and accusing it of a lack of substantive arguments .
The veto seems to be merely a political action that negatively impacts residents and the environment.
- he comments.
He emphasizes that the solutions included in the act would bring relief to households, ensure residents' active participation in the decision-making process and financial benefits from the participation fund, which could amount to as much as PLN 30 million by 2030.
- The veto seems to be only a political action that negatively affects residents and the environment - says Dawid Litwin (Photo: Gmina Potęgowo/Facebook)
Financial losses for residents, blocking investments in renewable energy sources and a brake on innovation
" The lack of support for wind energy development not only means financial losses for residents, but also the blocking of investments that are crucial for the transition to green energy . Wind turbines are the cheapest source of energy, and their development could significantly contribute to reducing CO2 emissions and combating the climate crisis," argues Dawid Litwin.
He adds that since 2016 we have been observing stagnation in the development of renewable energy sources in Poland, which is worrying in the context of global trends.
"President Nawrocki's veto is a brake on innovation and progress in the energy sector, and residents are being deprived of the benefits of renewable energy development," the president pointed out. "Poland needs decisive action for sustainable development and support for renewable energy. The president's veto should prompt us to reflect on the country's energy future and engage in a dialogue that will ultimately lead to beneficial solutions for all citizens."
Adam Ciszkowski is hoping for a quick compromise. "They need to develop a good format for cooperation."
A much more balanced position is presented by the president of the Association of Polish Local Governments and the mayor of Halinów, Adam Ciszkowski.
I understand that the matter is not yet finalized, and the goal is to revise the project to find some compromise and allow President Nawrocki to accept it. Remember, he has only been formally sworn in since August 6th, so there hasn't really been a chance to develop a good format for cooperation with the government on such, let's say, strategic matters. This takes time.
- says the head of the ZSP.
He believes that an approach based on the principle "electricity prices will rise because the president vetoed it" would be too populist, as much more action would be needed to curb price increases . However, he believes in a compromise between the president and the government.
Agree on the distance from buildings, maybe create special zones
When it comes to the issue of wind farms, he says he understands the arguments on both sides.
"Both those who want renewable energy produced in Poland, but also those who don't want wind turbines or other installations so close to their homes. In this case, a compromise must also be found—whether in terms of distances, or in creating special zones for such installations, perhaps identifying specific locations where such investments could be implemented," suggests Adam Ciszkowski.
- A compromise should be found - either in these distances or in creating special zones for this type of installations, perhaps indicating some specific places where such investments could be implemented - suggests Adam Ciszkowski (Photo: Gmina Halinów/Facebook)
The mayor of Halinów reminds us that the issue of freezing energy prices is equally important for households and local governments, which continue to use this mechanism, even though it was originally intended to be removed from their use starting in 2025. They are very keen to see prices stop rising not only this year but also in the coming years.
The increase in energy prices means increased expenses for residents and local governments and great social dissatisfaction
"Otherwise, it will result in increased current expenses and fewer investment opportunities. From the perspective of the average person, this would also mean increased expenses and living costs, and therefore significant social dissatisfaction," he emphasizes. "It's good that the president and the government are preparing new projects. We expect them to reach an agreement on such matters. It's possible that these regulations will come into force before the end of September. After all, the history of Polish parliamentarism is full of examples of regulations that were implemented very quickly."
According to the head of the ZSP, the lack of an agreement on securing prices at an appropriate level will end in mutual blame-shifting, and ordinary people will suffer.
