The province of Drenthe is in conflict with the Municipality of Stadskanaal about the contribution of 2.1 million euros that the government has made available for residents directly near the Drentse Monden and Oostermoer wind farm.
Stadskanaal is dissatisfied with the fact that more than six hundred of its residents receive less compensation for the nuisance caused by the wind farm than their neighbors in Drenthe. This imbalance has been causing a conflict since 2019, reports RTV North. The province mentions the provincial border as an obstacle to also meeting residents of Stadskanaal.
‘Residents do not experience the provincial border’
“But in the perception of our residents such a hard border does not exist,” writes mayor Klaas Sloots to the Drentse deputy Tjisse Stelpstra (ChristenUnie). “The impact of the windmills is tangible and comparable for all residents of the area.”
Stadskanaal understands that the compensation that the province and the municipalities of Borger-Odoorn and Aa en Hunze have made available is intended for residents of these municipalities. But: “We think the contribution of the central government to the area funds is a different story,” mayor Sloots writes on behalf of the council to deputy Stelpstra.
Ministry agrees with Stadskanaal
Sloots writes: “In the letter from the ministry, the purpose of the contribution of 2.1 million is clearly described. For our council this cannot be explained in any other way than that the resources that the national government has made available are intended for the entire area. “This also applies to residents living in the vicinity of the wind farm in our municipality. After contacting the Ministry of Economic Affairs, we feel strengthened in our position.”
Stadskanaal has previously held talks with the province about the distribution of the government grant of 2.1 million euros, and Drenthe did not yet agree. The municipality again asks Drenthe to give the 617 home owners who live within a radius of 1000 meters of the Drentse Monden wind farm a chance to win a contribution from this pot.
Reaction province of Drenthe
The province says it wants to enter into discussions with Stadskanaal about the government contribution for the Drentse Monden wind farm. A spokesperson for the province says that she sees a particular responsibility here for the province of Groningen. However, he believes that initiators for a wind farm should set up an area fund and has never put any amounts on the table for this.