Germany is well poised to use Poland’s new incoming left-liberal majority to benefit Germany’s wind energy industry due to intense lobbying efforts, argues a Polish official from the Mazovian Voivode region, Tobiasz Bocheński, in a post on X.
“Of course, we’re dealing with a ‘windmill scandal!’ Do you know what was the topic of my first conversation with the German Ambassador Arndt Freytag von Loringhoven? It started with the information that German industry wants to sell wind power plants to Poland. Those were his first words and the first real project by the members of the new parliamentary coalition: Civic Coalition (KO), Poland 2050. What a coincidence,” wrote Bocheński
He then goes on to describe the details of what he says is going to be a massive handout to the German green energy industry.
“Let’s look at the facts: First, an amendment written by unknown authors tries to change the Polish wind energy market and spatial development directions. These are extremely important issues that are not resolved hastily and on the fly. Anyone who has participated in legislative work knows that such a project requires lawyers and experts. The real authors of the project should be revealed if KO and Poland 2050 claim to be transparent, yet they did not write the law. Otherwise, we can calmly assume that the project was delivered by lobbyists wanting to profit from us all,” he wrote.
When Bocheński writes of “spatial development issues,” he is referring to a new law in the works that would allow developers to build wind turbines within 300 meters of residential properties, which would help wind farms place more turbines on land located near housing, and in turn, help these projects generate more profit. The new law is being put forward as one of the first priorities of the new Polish parliamentary majority, and critics say it will allow German corporations to buy up Polish farmland and convert it into massive wind farms.
“The falsehood in the declarations of KO-Poland 2050 politicians is alarming. They eagerly and carefully hide behind the environment, knowing that everyone wants to live in a clean environment. At the same time, they do not say who really benefits from the change in the law,” wrote Bocheński.
“Polish energy giant Orlen is building the largest wind farm in Poland in the Baltic Sea. At the same time, the politicians of KO indirectly caused Orlen’s stock market value to drop by 5.5 billion zlotys through their announcements. If they cared about wind energy, they would announce the expansion of Orlen’s and PGE’s wind investments. This is not happening. Hence, it is clear they are operating with false intentions.”
For this third point, the Polish official writes that the new government has little to say about nuclear energy, which would provide cheap and CO2-free energy to Poles.
“The KO-Poland 2050 politicians declare their eagerness to provide Poles with cheap electricity. We all want that. (But) they forget that the wind sometimes blows and sometimes it does not. It is physically impossible to base Polish energy 100 percent on renewable sources, unless someone wants to shut down our industry and turn Poland into a museum. If they cared about cheap Polish electricity, they would solemnly confirm plans to build nuclear power plants started by the PiS government. We hear nothing about this,” he wrote.
For his final point, he notes that much of the frozen EU money that will likely be flowing to Poland will go right back to neighboring countries and not into the hands of Poles, writing: “Fourth, for months, KO-Poland 2050-Left politicians lamented over European funds that should flow to Poland. The ‘windmill scandal’ proves that the funds negotiated by the Polish government are to be spent in such a way by the new coalition that they fill the pockets of the German, Dutch, French, or Danish industry. How are EU funds supposed to stay in Poland?”
The Polish official describes the foreign lobbying taking place in Poland as “scandalous” and notes that energy is a sector of critical importance to Poland’s security and development.
“We need cheap, Polish energy that will increase the competitiveness of our economy, make us independent from foreign suppliers, and ensure low prices for our household bills. The ‘windmill scandal’ hits all these elements. That’s why it is so dangerous,” he concluded.
