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Windmill Act. Prime Minister Tusk: I'm in shock
„Mr. President, should you encounter me anywhere, I’d prefer your assistance rather than opposition in such clear-cut matters,” Prime Minister Donald Tusk remarked on Thursday, addressing Karol Nawrocki. He was referring to the so-called wind farm legislation, which also stabilizes electricity rates. The amendment is pending the president’s approval.
On Tuesday, the Sejm (the lower house of parliament) approved the majority of the Senate’s modifications to the Wind Farm Act. In addition to measures that relax investment regulations for onshore wind farms, the amendment ensures that electricity prices for households remain frozen until the year’s end. The president will now determine the bill’s future.
Zbigniew Bogucki, the head of the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland, was asked on Thursday on Polsat News if President Nawrocki would endorse this amendment. „This legislation is a poorly conceived trap, designed to ensnare either former President Andrzej Duda or the newly appointed President Karol Nawrocki,” he stated.
He further noted that the Senate had modified the bill with a „significant number of amendments.” „There are questions regarding the constitutionality of this legislation and the order of three readings—a situation where, in fact, many essential aspects of the bill are altered only in the Senate. And, of course, something crucial is included there, namely protections and consequently lower bills for Polish citizens,” Bogucki articulated.
He expressed that the president „will take care of it.” „There will be a definitive message,” he declared.
Prime Minister Tusk comments
„On my journey to you, I heard this assertion from the new president’s camp that he might not approve the bill. I was taken aback. Firstly, this legislation provides a means to keep electricity costs for Polish families as manageable as possible, as it freezes electricity prices for the upcoming months. We need this bill for that,” Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated on Thursday during a press conference in Męcina.
„Secondly, this is known as the windmill legislation, partly because it will facilitate the construction of the most economical energy sources available today. Whether anyone likes it or not, onshore wind farms currently provide the lowest-cost electricity,” he added.
„I recall President Nawrocki asserting that he would reduce electricity prices by 30 percent within three months. If the president believes that electricity prices will decrease due to resolutions, projects, or declarations, then he is mistaken. Electricity prices can only drop when the government compensates, by freezing prices. That is in this bill. Prices can decrease when there are increasing numbers of affordable energy sources. And that is also covered in this bill,” he remarked.
„If Mr. President intends to follow the path that President Duda took, which ultimately led to more vetoes, it will reflect negatively on him. I have no control over what he vetoes or does not veto. He will only complicate matters for himself. We will explore all possible avenues to lower electricity rates, particularly for family farms. However, Mr. President, should you come across me, I’d prefer your support, not resistance, in such evident matters,” the Prime Minister concluded.
Energy Minister Miłosz Motyka also urged the president to endorse the wind farm law amendment.
„Energy from renewable resources is the least expensive source. This legislation fully safeguards the interests of local communities,” he assured. He further stated that no investments would proceed without local community approval.
„We urge the president to sign the bill, which has been thoroughly discussed, well-prepared, and guarantees low energy costs. To enhance Poland’s security, this legislation needs to be signed,” he emphasized.
He stressed the importance of optimizing expenditures on the development of electricity networks. He believes that this will, among other things, help prevent the need to shut down renewable energy sources.
Windmill Act
The primary objective of the Wind Farm Act is to liberalize the current regulations regarding investments in onshore wind farms. The amendment eliminates the 10H rule established in 2016 and introduces a minimum distance of 500 meters for new wind turbines from residential areas. The existing requirement is 700 meters. Besides the provisions related to the construction of wind turbines, the act includes a clause introduced during parliamentary discussions that extends the freeze on the net electricity price for households to PLN 500 per MWh until the fourth quarter of 2025. Presently, the freeze is set to last until the end of September.
Energy Minister Miłosz Motyka previously indicated that, should the president veto the bill, „it is certainly an option” to propose a legislation that solely addresses the freezing of energy prices, excluding the wind energy aspect. „However, we also have a tariff recalibration under consideration. (…) Currently, we are aware that these elevated tariff prices, which arose from the errors of our predecessors, will be significantly lower. We’ll see how low, as these are corporate decisions, and we will adjust the price freeze accordingly,” the Energy Minister clarified.
