Wind farm dispute in Bordesholm: nature conservation or energy demand?

Wind farm dispute in Bordesholm: nature conservation or energy demand?

In Schleswig-Holstein the wind is blowing quite a bit, but not always to the advantage of the residents. Recently, the planning of new wind farms in the Bordesholm district has been the subject of heated discussions. Despite the reduction in the area for a possible wind farm at the Fügenmoor nature reserve from 197 to 75 hectares, there remains great uncertainty as to how wind energy planning can be reconciled with the interests of nature conservation and the local population. So reported kn online that the area lies between the communities of Mühbrook, Bordesholm, Wattenbek, Negenharrie and the city of Neumünster. The main focus is on concerns about the impact on bird populations, particularly near a crane breeding site just 650 meters away.

Neumünster is therefore planning a negative statement, and the council meeting will decide on it on September 30th. The Lower Nature Conservation Authority in Neumünster is very concerned about possible negative effects on wildlife. Therefore, local politicians in Bordesholm are relieved about the reduction in the area, but consider it a small success as the country is likely to stick to its plans.

Largest wind farm area in northern German hands

Wind power is of particular importance for Schleswig-Holstein: The new plans are intended to expand the area for wind energy from the current 2% to around 3% of the state's area schleswig-holstein.de explained. At the end of July 2025, the state government approved the draft for three new regional plan subsets for onshore wind energy, which replace the old regulations from 2020. Citizens can give their opinions on these drafts until October 8, 2025.

However, not all citizens are happy about the wind farm plans. So people in Mühbrook look at the developments with resignation. Mayor Andreas Schilling expressed concerns that the wind farms could fundamentally disrupt rural village life. In the Schönbek/Loop priority area, the area is to be more than doubled from 51 to 127 hectares. This means the possibility of building four to five more wind turbines and thus seeing more “asparagus spears” in the fields, as local residents often sarcastically call it.

Public discussion and nature conservation

Concerns about the impact of wind farms on the environment are not unfounded. According to NABU Schleswig-Holstein, the state's high wind potential offers great potential for wind energy production, but uncontrolled wind turbines are not without consequences for nature and the landscape. Planning must be done sustainably in order to avoid negative effects on the flora and fauna, which is what conservationists are demanding both in Schleswig-Holstein and nationwide. Particular attention should be paid to the concerns of bird and bat populations, as their populations are also threatened by wind turbines nabu.de thematised.

The public meetings taking place on September 22nd and 23rd in Negenharrie and Wattenbek will be about taking the concerns and needs of citizens seriously. The issue of wind power is a double-edged sword: On the one hand, the energy transition and the expansion of renewable energies are very popular, but on the other hand, the people in the affected areas often feel like they are losers from this development. The Neumünster council meeting will also decide on a statement on the project and could thus significantly influence the fate of the wind farm planning.