Foto: BB.LV / ветряки
Considering the amendments in the final reading, the Saeima supported the proposal of the Ministry of Climate and Energy, which stipulates that local governments have the right to establish a minimum distance of no more than 2000 meters from the boundary of a city or town to the nearest planned wind power plant or the boundary of a wind farm, if such a restriction is justified by the further development of the respective city or town in the local government's sustainable development strategy. Previously, this proposal was not supported by the commission. The Saeima also supported the proposal to change the conditions under which projects for wind power plants with a total capacity of at least 35 MW are subject to initial impact assessment. The supported version provides for the application of this procedure to wind power plants planned in a parish where, according to the latest published data from the Central Statistical Bureau, the average population density is below the average for Latvia, while maintaining the legally established restrictions regarding sensitive and protected areas. The Saeima also supported transitional regulations for projects of wind power plants that have already been initiated. The supported version stipulates that for wind power plant projects for which a decision on the approval of the proposed activity is made before December 31, 2026, the validity of this decision is until December 31, 2033. The competent authority may decide to extend the validity of the decision until December 31, 2040. It is also provided that for wind power plant projects for which a decision on the application of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) is made before July 1, 2026, but a decision on the approval or disapproval of the project has not yet been made, the competent authority will make a decision by December 31, 2029, after receiving the local government's opinion on the project's compliance with territorial planning. Even in the case of a positive opinion from the local government, the competent authority will not approve the project if two conditions are simultaneously met: wind power plants with a total capacity of at least 150 MW are put into operation or construction permits for wind power plants are issued in the respective local government, and the competent authority determines that the implementation of the project will create or may create significant negative cumulative impacts on the environment, landscape, or quality of life for residents.
