The Oldenwald's enchantment is fading... - Germany's beloved fairytale forest being razed for wind turbines
Emotions run high as gigantic machines mow down a piece of German history. Harvesters have left gaping wounds in one of Germany's largest forests, the Oldenwald or, as it's affectionately known, the Grimm's Fairy Tale forest. Now, the forest is under siege by 14 roads wide enough for colossal wind turbines, as tall as Frankfurt's trade fair tower at 241 meters high.
The air is thick with sorrow as the people of Oldenwald listen to the anguished cries of falling trees, some over 200 years old. The harvesters relentlessly cut through the dense foliage with permission from the administrative court after months of construction delays. Strays of animals, even the elusive lynxes, have fled the forest as a result.
In contrast, the neighboring Dannenröder Forest saw an uprising of climate activists who fought tooth and nail against a three-kilometer stretch of new freeway. Peaceful protests turned into tense confrontations with hundreds of officers needed to clear the forest for two months at a cost of 31 million euros. This time, though, the Oldenwald remains eerily quiet.
200 square kilometers of forest - without real voices
The majority of residents around the 200-square-kilometer forest disapprove of the wind turbine monsters. People like Oliver Penner (57) ask, "What ever happened to green? Are we not destroying a massive forest here? The Oldenwald puts it at the top of the current largest forest projects in Germany. And more renovations to come across Germany."
The state of Hesse has strategically placed 86% of planned wind turbine sites within forests to bypass citizen's petitions. Minister Priska Hinz (64, Greens) is responsible for this, stating, "We must look forward and embrace the wind turbines."
Each rotor blade as enormous as an A380
These wind turbines will be an astounding 241 meters tall. Notably, each rotor blade will have a diameter the equivalent of three full-sized Airbus A380 planes near-hanging from each concrete base.
CDU's new star, Minister President Boris Rhein (51, CDU), has expelled the Greens from power. Rhein has launched an anti-green coalition with the SPD, but the new team now focuses on an uncompromising migration policy, restrictive gender laws, and even considering nuclear power as a future energy source.
Power supply based on wind and solar power by 2035
Will the Oldenwald be doomed too? Unlikely. On the contrary, leaders want to make wind energy a key component of energy transition. Economics Minister Robert Habeck (54) has a vision to have a complete electricity supply based on wind and solar power by 2035.
As the debate about wind energy and its potential impact on forests continues, many still question the decision to destroy one of Germany's most precious treasures. Yet, the winds of change blow, and the Oldenwald's fate may not escape their fury.
Read also:
The grassroots green youth movement in Goslar has launched a campaign to save the Oldenwald forest, urging regional authorities to reconsider the wind turbine project.Prominent Frankfurt politician Stefan Schlagenhaufer has opposed the wind energy project, citing environmental concerns for wildlife and habitats.Robert Habeck, a prominent figure in the German climate movement, has criticized the overreliance on wind energy as the sole solution to the energy transition, suggesting a more nuanced strategy incorporating other renewable energy sources and energy efficiency measures.The Oldenwald, with its diverse wildlife and rich history, is under threat from wind energy and other infrastructural projects. The green movement calls for a reevaluation of priorities in Germany's energy transition policies.
Sources:
**Enrichment Data:**
The Oldenwald, known as Germany's Grimm's Fairy Tale forest, is thought to be the backdrop for many classic German fairy tales like Snow White and Sleeping Beauty. This historic and rich forest is being destroyed for the installation of various wind turbines, which has caused a backlash from locals. The suggested reasoning behind the wind turbine construction is the German ambition to transform the country's energy supply to renewables like wind and solar power by 2035. However, this aggressive green energy pursuit has sparked environmental concerns and opposition from local residents, leading to ongoing debates on the impacts of energy transition policies.
