Minister of Climate and Environment Paulina Hennig-Kloska comments on the presidential veto of the wind farm bill

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– I must express that this is an incredibly irresponsible choice by the president, which runs counter to logic, economic sense, and most importantly, undermines the interests of the Polish state, its families, and the economy – stated Paulina Hennig-Kloska, Minister of Climate, during a press conference on Thursday.

At the press conference held on Thursday, Minister of Climate and Environment Paulina Hennig-Kloska conveyed her disappointment regarding President Karol Nawrocki’s veto of the wind farm legislation.

READ MORE: The president has made a decision regarding electricity prices and wind turbines >>>

Energy price freeze. What Karol Nawrocki signed and what he didn't sign. Paweł Supernak/PAP

Presidential veto on wind turbines

– We are witnessing the first presidential veto, and it is with regret that I must say this is a deeply irresponsible decision by the president, contrary to logic, economic rationale and, most critically, against the interests of the Polish state, its families, and the economy – she remarked.

She highlighted that the legislation aimed to benefit all citizens, providing concrete advantages.

„Ladies and gentlemen, this law was designed to benefit all citizens. It ensured reduced energy costs, both in the near future and in the long run,” she stated. She noted that lower energy prices are a common expectation among the Polish populace and all political factions.

Hennig-Kloska on the most economical energy sources

The Minister underscored the importance of utilizing the most economical energy sources to satisfy these expectations. „Everyone claims to strive for lower energy costs, but this cannot be achieved unless we tap into the most affordable energy sources, which include renewable energy alternatives, such as onshore wind farms,” she clarified.

She pointed out that onshore wind farms represent the most economical energy source, as opposed to offshore wind farms which incur higher costs due to the need to transport electricity to land and distribute it throughout the country.

Decision „against the interests of the economy”

Hennig-Kloska cautioned that actions taken by opposition parties could hinder efforts to reduce energy prices. „If Law and Justice and the Confederation persist in obstructing the advancement of the most affordable energy sources in Poland, it will become challenging to ensure lower energy costs for Polish citizens and the economy,” the minister stated.

– The president’s decision also contradicts the interests of the economy since this law was supposed to primarily benefit entrepreneurs, including both large energy-intensive industries and small to medium-sized businesses that do not gain from energy savings, but solely from market prices – she added.

She remarked that it was entrepreneurs who requested the Presidential Palace to promote this energy form.

As she elaborated, „this energy development approach in Poland will enable entrepreneurs to stay competitive in global and European markets, as maintaining this competitiveness requires us to utilize the most economical energy sources.”

Sovereignty and energy security

„This decision also contradicts the interests of the Polish state, as we need to move away from reliance on imported fossil fuels. The Polish energy sector must regain its sovereignty,” she stressed. She noted that Poland spends approximately PLN 120 billion each year on fossil fuel imports.

The Minister highlighted that the law could have represented a step towards enhanced energy sovereignty. „Today, we could have made progress toward increasing the sovereignty of our energy sector, relying on resources that are available and independent within our nation, such as wind energy, solar energy, and hydropower, because that was the direction this law was taking. It also included biomethane, biogas, and other alternative fuels,” she remarked.

She emphasized the significance of the act for the nation’s energy security amid the energy transition.

„We are undergoing an energy transition, where traditional energy sources are being replaced by renewable energy alternatives. We must navigate this process carefully, ensuring the stable functioning of the power system,” stated the minister. She acknowledged that wind energy plays a crucial role as a supplementary source to solar energy.

Climate Minister: The government will not back down

„The government will not relent. The Ministry of Climate and Environment will persist in its efforts on the bill concerning the advancement of onshore wind turbines and energy, striving for consensus. We aim to reintroduce this bill to the Sejm in September, coinciding with the start of the new political season. We will pursue agreement on this matter,” Minister Hennig-Kloska declared at the press conference on Thursday.

She added that she would engage in discussions regarding this issue with other government members next week. „I will suggest that we re-adopt this bill separately

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