by Thorsten Koch

In order to increase acceptance for the construction of new wind turbines, German Minister of Economics Peter Altmaier (CDU) has proposed that in future, a levy should be paid to the municipalities, and that residents could possibly benefit from reduced electricity tariffs. Altmeier suggests that wind farm operators pay at least 0.2 Cents per kilowatt hour as a mandatory levy to the respective communities. It would be up to the municipalities how they use the money – depending on the electricity yield up to around 20,000 euros per year. “Citizen electricity tariffs”, which electricity providers could offer voluntarily, would save electricity customers between 100 and 200 Euros per year.