German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government may try to tame growing opposition to onshore wind developments by offering cash sweeteners to local councils and consumers. A plan drawn up by officials Berlin suggest municipalities could earn as much as 20,000 euros ($21,600) a year for each newly-erected wind turbine in their districts from 2021, according to a copy of the document seen by Bloomberg News. Wind developers would pay for the initiative, which assumes active council support for new projects.
Power consumers may also benefit directly from new wind projects in their regions, according to the government proposals. Local councils may opt to forgo a cash bonus and offer it to cut local residents annual power bills by as much as 200 euros ($216). Bloated by taxes and a mandatory surcharge to support green power, German retail electricity prices are now the most expensive in Europe.