Incoming Dutch government to favour offshore over onshore wind
New coalition in government agreement also says it will consider space for fishing first in its offshore wind policy and puts emphasis on nuclear
The incoming Dutch government said it will favour offshore over onshore wind, and at sea give priority to fishing interests, according to a government agreement of the four centre to far-right parties that decided to form a new coalition.
The parties last week had published their government agreement (‘regeerakkoord’), but half a year after parliamentary elections still haven’t chosen who would be prime minister – amid a rejection of the more centrists parties of the new coalition against Geert Wilders, the leader of the far-right Freedom Party (PVV) and election winner.
On a positive note, NedZero, the Dutch wind power association (formerly NWEA) said it shares the vision of the parties forming the new government that it is wise to generate more affordable home-grown energy (instead of energy imports from hostile nations such as Russia).
The group doesn’t agree with the shift in emphasis towards wind at sea instead of on land, however.
“Nevertheless, we are generally positive: it is wise to continue and respect the existing administrative agreements.”
The coalition accord states that the new government will “adhere to existing agreements” in climate policy, although it also said it will reverse an already planned increase in the Netherlands’ CO2 levy.
The agreement also includes the intention to keep the country’s only nuclear power station at Borssele open, and continue with plans to build at least two further new nuclear reactors as well as possibly several small nuclear reactors.
How the likely very expensive nuclear plans should be financed was not detailed in the agreement, but it states: “The government contributes to construction through public-private partnerships and knowledge development.”