As the municipal head Mirosław Haniszewski reports:
For many years, Warta Bolesławiecka municipality has been seeking additional revenue to ensure funding for its tasks and activities. One of its key priorities is attracting new businesses. Seeking revenue is an important part of the municipality’s operations, because without sufficient funds it cannot fulfil its obligations to residents. It is a fact that “our little homeland,” where we decided to settle, is rich in natural resources such as copper ore, silver, limestone and marl, which are a valuable asset for the municipality. However, simply possessing deposits is not always enough to attract investors. High extraction costs and technological challenges pose serious barriers for investors.
In 2020, at the request of the investor, PANATTONI EUROPE, the municipal authorities decided to prepare an amendment to the local spatial development plan in Szczytnica, which was intended to enable the construction of three warehouse halls. However, the investment was suspended because, as the company’s representative explained, the situation in Ukraine, both geopolitically and economically, affected investment decisions.
In response to the difficulties involved in attracting traditional investors and while seeking new development opportunities for our municipality, we attempted to pursue the construction of wind power plants, which could have been an additional source of revenue.
Based on our experience from previous years, we were aware that this direction of development might meet with a lack of public acceptance. Therefore, in order to learn your opinion, the Warta Bolesławiecka Municipal Council adopted a resolution to commence work on a local spatial development plan for the purpose of locating wind turbines. This allowed us to begin public consultations in accordance with the procedure specified in special regulations, namely the Spatial Planning and Land Development Act and the Act on Investments in Wind Power Plants.
He adds:
The consultations clearly revealed a lack of acceptance for the proposed location of wind turbines within Warta Bolesławiecka municipality. Residents expressed concerns about the potential negative effects of the turbines. Despite the benefits presented of renewable energy, residents’ opinions, numerous applications and protests submitted to the Warta Bolesławiecka Municipal Office clearly indicated opposition to the location of wind turbines. From the very first meetings, we emphasised to you that the municipality treats the needs and concerns of its residents as a priority. Therefore, at its latest session, held on 5 December 2024, the Warta Bolesławiecka Municipal Council adopted a resolution to withdraw from preparing a local spatial development plan for the purpose of locating wind turbines. We want Warta Bolesławiecka municipality to develop harmoniously and in a manner accepted by the local community.
And concludes:
We would like to sincerely thank everyone who took part in the public consultations and became involved in submitting their opinions, comments and proposals concerning the development of our municipality. I believe that, by making decisions based on your suggestions, our municipality will develop in a way that responds to the needs of its residents.