The council of Alkmaar wants to allow small windmills on farmyards. If a majority of the city council agrees with the new policy, farmers will soon be allowed to have their own turbine on their property under strict conditions.
With the new policy, the municipality wants to meet the increasing demand for private wind turbines. Several farmers have already submitted an application for this, for example dairy farmer Jan van der Vliet from Grootschermer
These are small wind turbines with a maximum height of fifteen to twenty metres, which can be used to generate energy for the company.
division
Placing wind turbines in the polder landscape led to divisions between residents and within the city council last year. Some of the inhabitants are concerned about the historic appearance of their polder the Schermer. Will it soon be full of wind turbines, if the applications that are currently there are approved? Several city council members disagreed with the development of the policy. DOrps councils were allegedly informed too late and were not consulted.
With this policy proposal, the Municipal Executive no longer wants to stand in the way of farmers who want to become more sustainable, while at the same time ensuring that the unique polder landscape is preserved.
There are quite a few conditions attached to the application. “It is possible, unless the company is located near monuments and characteristic buildings. It must comply with the cultural-historical values of the area and may not be located near vulnerable nature or in bird flying areas,” says alderman Anjo van de Ven.
In addition, the height of the windmill must also match the size of the yard. “We’re looking at the entire ‘heritage ensemble’,” she continues. “What’s in the yard, how is it furnished, what are the plants and water like? The mill has to fit into that whole.”
Nothing official yet
The application procedure, which currently takes about six months, has been shortened in the new proposal. “There is now a concept ready for people to think about, it is not yet an official council decision,” emphasizes the alderman. “We are now going to present it to the village councils and the city council. In September we will hold two meetings in the villages.”
Last month, the municipality of Medemblik also agreed to a pilot for inherited small windmills. Dairy farmer Marco Jaapies from Hensbroek already placed one in his yard last October. And although it may cost a lot of money, according to Jaapies it also yields a lot. “It supplies 80,000 kilowatts, which is about two-thirds of our electricity consumption.”