Mediation process on development in Germany ends in framework agreement
Geothermal power plant in Landau, Rhineland Palatinate, Germany (source: flickr/ webguy63, creative commons)
Alexander Richter
29 May 2013
Two year mediation process on geothermal development between opposing groups and developers has ended with a framework agreement laying down ground rules.
As part of a two year long mediation process in the German State of Rhineland-Palatinate, there now has been reached an agreement.
Both groups now agreed on a framework for future geothermal development, in which risks such as seismicity will have to be explicitly researched and the local community needs to be involved and informed.
As part of the mediation results, both groups had to give up on various points. For opponents the hardest pill to swallow seems that there won’t be the possibility for a referendum among the population in proximity to the planned project.
For investors and developers the whole process of development will ultimately be longer, but there is agreement that overall it will be helpful to have a set framework for development that includes both opposing parties and developers.
Source: SWR/ Landesschau (video in German)
