56 percent in favor

Majority vote in favor of wind turbines in the Mühlviertel

With this misrepresentation, the Environmental Ombudsman created a mood against the wind turbines. They are now being erected anyway.

(Bild: zVg)

Even the campaigns of Upper Austrian environmental lawyer Martin Donat did not help: Rainbach im Mühlkreis decided on Sunday to erect three wind turbines in the municipal area. 60 percent of citizens took part in the vote.

The facts about the project are well known: Verbund, headed by former ÖVP Deputy Governor Michael Strugl, is planning to erect three wind turbines in the municipality of Rainbach im Mühlkreis. The billion-euro company involved the local population in the project in advance, with support coming from Mayor Günter Lorenz. However, there was massive opposition from both the municipality and the Linz provincial parliament.

Tainbach is considered a pilot project for an even larger plant
As reported, environmental lawyer Martin Donat was at the forefront of the fight against the construction of the plant. In a circular that landed in the letterboxes of the market town, which has a population of over 3,000, he argued: "As you may know, 46 wind turbines are currently planned in the north and east of the Mühlviertel. Rainbach is therefore considered a pilot project. If this wind farm is approved, it can be assumed that many more wind turbines will be erected, especially in the Freiwald and Weinsberger Wald."

The results of the survey will be discussed at the next municipal council meeting. And for the mayor, the same applies as before the referendum. The opinion of the population must be respected.

Bürgermeister Günter Lorenz, Rainbach im Mühlkreis

"Environmental lawyer damages the country's reputation"
The municipal council decided to ask the population - which it did yesterday, Sunday: 1487 citizens took part in the vote, with 822 voting in favor of the construction. So there were 55.3% yes votes. Mayor Lorenz said on Sunday: "The result of the survey will be discussed at the next municipal council meeting. And for the mayor, the same applies as before the referendum. The opinion of the population must be respected."

The ÖVP politician comments on the role of the state's environmental ombudsman: "With completely exaggerated depictions of oversized wind turbines and questionable photomontages, he is damaging the reputation of the Upper Austrian Environmental Ombudsman's Office and the state. Environmental Ombudsman and the province." As is well known, Donat was reprimanded by the director of the provincial office for his campaign.