It seems that the amendment to the Act on the Distance of Wind Power Plants is getting closer and closer to be adopted. The new governing coalition has already tried to change the provisions regulating the distance with a somewhat clumsy “MP” draft bill. But this time, the government itself has published a draft bill that will undergo a full public consultation.

The authors of this draft bill seem to have been guided by the idea of the social participation. As is has been the case, only a zoning plan, which is subject to wide public consultation, will be the sole document making it possible to locate wind parks. Finally, it will be possible to include wind farms in the integrated investment plan, which is a special form of the local master plan. This will allow for urban agreements to be concluded and for supplementary investments to be located in communes at the cost of investors.

The wind will become a big chance for a cheaper energy not only for residents of communes where the farms are located, but also for residents of neighbouring communes. Just as today, they will be able to obtain jointly up to 10% of the wind farm capacity as virtual prosumers. The amendment defines more precisely a number of aspects of cooperation with prosumers. For example, it provides for an obligation to publish the template of prosumer agreement. The minister for climate issues will finally determine the purchase price of the “virtual” share in the wind power plant (albeit within the limits specified by the Act). The communes themselves will also gain the possibility to purchase power from the plant located within their respective territories at a preferential price.

Last but not least, the Act is to definitely end the infamous limit of 10H , that is, the distance to be kept between residential buildings and wind power plants equal to 10 times the height of the turbine. In addition, the hitherto minimal distance of 700 m will be replaced by the long-awaited 500 m. What is more, wind power plants should be located at least 1,500 m away from national parks and 500 m from Nature 2000 areas.

The draft bill has yet to undergo a long legislative process. The amended Act will not change the directions or the intensity of the winds blowing in Poland but it might contribute to establishing new onshore wind power plants located according to the rules that take into account interests of residents, natural environment and investors.