Taking a leaf from Thuringia's renewable energy investment book, 31 of its local authorities are set for a windfall. Around nine million euros in urban development funding is on the table, and these municipalities can now breathe a collective sigh of relief after 124 applications were whittled down to just 34 promising projects. The state has finally settled on these ventures, making way for Thuringian urban centers to undergo much-needed facelifts or adjustments in the face of demographic shifts in rural areas.
The total value of the applications submitted tallied an impressive 45 million euros, an eye-opener regarding the pressing needs of Thuringia's municipalities. The initial nine million euros will now be earmarked for the selected municipalities. However, the money itself remains untouched until applications are lodged and subsequently approved.
With this urban development funding, the beneficiary municipalities can initiate various construction projects. Adaptations in urban planning or readjustments to take on demographic transformations in rural areas are fair game. This is just another way for Thuringia to contribute to diverse projects initiated by the 124 aspiring municipalities, with a collective wish list worth approximately 45 million euros.
In the backdrop of this urban renewal, Thuringia has made significant strides in the renewable energy sector. Just take a look at its grid operator, TEAG, who received a €400 million loan from the European Investment Bank. This financial boost has made a €600 million investment program possible, with the goal of modernizing the regional network to support more green energy producers and users.
Connecting more decentralized producers and consumers, along with electromobility, is a crucial part of this upgrading process. To achieve this, new power cables, overhead lines, substations, and modern network components have been deployed. This grid evolution is a key step towards energy independence for Thuringia, as well as a show of resolve in the fight against climate change.
Lastly, in Uthleben, Thuringia's vision for communal energy cooperation became a living reality. Energiequelle GmbH spearheaded a successful community energy project in this wind farm, involving five energy cooperatives, Heringen/Helme, and a local farmer. This collective effort has resulted in the wind farm saving approximately 7,000 tonnes of CO2 annually and providing green electricity to around 4,000 households.
It's clear that Thuringia's green energy initiatives are paving the way for a more sustainable future. With the €9 million urban development funding now in play, Thuringia's local authorities can further build upon this momentum, bringing about positive change in their communities.
