The citizens' petition against theplanned geothermal plant in Waghäusel has been successful so far.After 2 out of 3 weeks, almost twice the number of the needed votes have beenwon. Other affected communities will certainly copy the campaign. Allin all, Waghäusel is sending out a signal to the entire Upper RhineGraben.
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"2,271 signatures for citizens' petition
Waghäusel.A thick bundle with exactly 2,271 signatures was handed in by the IG"Against Deep Geothermal Energy" at the Waghäusel townhall. Head of the Office for Order and Environment Desiree Herzogaccepted the lists. Unfortunately, according to the IG in a pressrelease, the request for a photo documentation of the processremained unfulfilled.
Expression of citizens' will
"Latesignatures" have been announced and can still be submitted bythe end of the month. So the number of 2271 should and can beincreased, IG circles say. "What we have handed over is anexpression of the citizens' will," emphasise KarinLinowski-Rother, Christina Friedrich, Andrea Fischer and ElkeWeidemann (photo from right to left).
For them, the high number ofsignatures is a sign of the "recognisable unwillingness of thepopulation" against the plan to give four city-owned plots ofland to a developer (currently Deutsche Erdwärme GmbH from Grünwald)for the construction of a deep geothermal power plant.
Alreadyseven citizens' initiatives
For the town of Waghäusel, this issomething completely new: a citizens' petition launched by the"Interessengemeinschaft (IG) Gegen Tiefengeothermie"(Interest Group Against Deep Geothermal Energy).
The associationis now the seventh citizens' initiative in the course of the pastyears, which - according to the primary aspect - feels ignored inmunicipal council decisions: northern bypass, bypass variant forHaslacher Straße, gas power plant, converter, logistics centreMittelzellche, headwind Lußhardt, against deep geothermal energy. Itis possible that there will be a new "Amazon logistics centre"group.
It is not always about the rejection of a project, butabout the lacking or insufficient involvement of one's own citizens,one hears. With some good will, the opposition should be followed bycooperation.
What are the OB candidates' views on this?
Afteran initial examination of the "election test questions"sent to all six candidates for mayor, one thing is clear: from IG'spoint of view, there are three supporters of deep geothermal energy(Deuschle, Heger and Bohnstedt) who are sympathetic to the council'sgeothermal-friendly decision, and three "deep geothermalsceptics" (Sand, Kretzler and Rickersfeld) who, as they say,want to see the citizens' will respected above all. The IG will beissuing a separate statement on the election test stones.
Asuccessful citizens' petition is usually followed by a referendum,unless the municipality gives in. However, this depends on the futuremayor and the municipal council.
With the help of seven per centof those eligible to vote, i.e. around 1200 signatures (2217 have nowbeen collected), it may be possible to overturn the municipalcouncil's decision, which was passed by a majority in November 2021,with a "second step referendum".
Annoyance in theIG
Meanwhile, the IG has reacted angrily to recurringcondescending remarks by politicians that there are a "fewhobos" who do not represent the majority opinion of 22,000inhabitants (approx. 17,000 eligible voters). What did 2271signatures mean?
Well: The IG representatives only had three weeksto collect signatures. Even compared to the 1,367 signatures of thecitizens' initiative FelS ("Against Logistics Centre - For aLiveable City") at the time, the number is quiterespectable.
List of disadvantages
Once again, the IG madeit clear: "We want a liveable city with a minimum of residentialand quality of life." It still sees a number of disadvantages ofthe Waghäusel geothermal project:
- Extreme proximity toresidential development and the railway line.
- Loss ofresidential value
- Danger of groundwater
- Drilling noise witha continuous level of 105 decibels
- Danger of earthquakes, asdrilling will take place at a depth of around 4,000 metres.
-Earth tremors in a radius of 20 km
- Danger from an outdated gaspipeline under the property
- Inadequate claims settlement in theevent of an accident. In Vendenheim near Strasbourg, with 3800damages, it is enough for 500 euros per damaged house."
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https://www.wochenblatt-reporter.de/waghaeusel/c-lokales/2271-unterschriften-fuer-buergerbegehren_a353576?fbclid=IwAR2gec87oKk3-Jldwg7h7YBzgialTFepC5NiT2tYlYihBOw8OHLKlU6k1hc
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