In Zwartemeer they breathe relieved. There is a tree forest between the village and the A37. The green threatened to disappear to make way for the solar panels. That was against the will of local residents. They not only appreciate the view, but the trees also keep the noise from the racing traffic on the highway.
Last year, the residents therefore sounded the way to the municipality and the province. And with success, because the plan is now gone, reports Lies Hemme of Village Council Zwartemeer. According to her, there is even a bonus. “The existing forest stays and we get trees.”
Work has been done on the A37 Zonner Route in Drenthe since 2017. A long strip of solar panels must be installed at and along the highway between Hoogeveen and the German border (42 kilometers). For construction it is necessary that trees have to be cut down. This is also the case with Zwartemeer. But that is now off the track.
Extra green is planted between the Krommewijk and the German border. “That takes away the view of the road even more,” she laughs. Hemme is happy with the outcome. “People really enjoy the view of the greenery. You can’t make it to remove all of that?” The message arrived at the municipality and province in any case.
It is not the first time that local residents successfully protest against parts of the Zonner route. Four years ago, residents of Erica spoke out against a 6.5 meter high and 2 kilometer long sun wall along the A37. At Zwinderen there were also plans for tree cover, but those are also off the track.
Alderman Pascal Schrik (Wakker Emmen) of the municipality of Emmen confirms that the solar panels between the Krommewijk and the viaduct at the German border have been deleted. “Residents were not really happy with that and would rather not see the green disappear.”
After consultation with the other parties involved (Coevorden, Hoogeveen, the province and Rijkswaterstaat), that wish was responded to. According to Schrik, some calculation work preceded that.
But with regard to the future exploitation of the Zonner route, the removal of the almost 2 kilometer long strip has no significant consequences. The deleted panels do not pop up in other places along the A37.
What about the trees along the rest of the A37 where solar panels come? Along the 42-kilometer route, there must be quite a few greenery for the construction of the panels. Replanting is mandatory in the Netherlands, but that is not easy.
A tree must be replanted close to the place where it has been cut down. “That is difficult. Sometimes there is no place for that, but you also have to talk to different terrain owners. That can be complicated,” says project manager Okke van Brandwijk (Rijkswaterstaat).
In the meantime, a report has been received stating how many trees are being felled. How many there are, Van Brandwijk cannot yet elaborate on that. “We first thoroughly go through the report ourselves.” They are, however, working on a list of locations where the trees may be replanted.
“We are in conversation with terrain owners or large companies. It happens that they sometimes do not use part of their site, that is an interesting place for us to replant trees,” says Van Brandwijk.