Gryffroy’s European Wind Power Action Plan opinioin gains unanimous CoR support

The Committee of the Regions has unanimously adopted the opinion of Andries Gryffroy, a member of the Flemish Parliament, on the European Wind Power Action Plan.

Presenting the opinion, Mr Gryffroy emphasised the necessity of embracing all forms of renewable energy that are both affordable and sustainable. He highlighted two critical areas: licensing and financing.

He stressed that the licensing process must be democratic, involving all stakeholders, particularly local communities, to ensure broad acceptance of wind projects. Without inclusive participation, public support for these projects could diminish. He also pointed out that wind farms often struggle to progress due to outdated business models. He called for innovative approaches and greater standardisation to overcome these financial hurdles.

In his speech, Gryffroy underscored the importance of wind energy in the EU’s energy mix, crucial for achieving climate targets and energy independence. He stated: “Wind energy is a key element of the EU energy mix to achieve climate targets and energy independence. However, to address the barriers and ensure a faster uptake of this technology, more needs to be done to improve general public acceptance and ensure local communities are fully involved in the development of wind power projects. The EU also needs more long-term plans and investment in energy storage and grid development to transport energy from the point of production to the point of consumption or local storage. The permitting process should be streamlined while taking into account environmental standards and potential conflicts with other European directives and regulations.”