Czech Lex Plyn bill heads for approval, aims to support gas-fired power plant construction

An amendment to the Energy Act introduced by MPs, nicknamed Lex Plyn, which is intended to support the construction of combined-cycle gas power plants, is set to move to final approval in the Chamber of Deputies after today’s proceedings. MPs have submitted two dozen amendments. One proposal could, for example, reduce the number of solar power plants built in 2009 and 2010 that must undergo individual profitability reviews under a previously approved amendment. The Pirates want the bill to introduce a fee for wind farms, while the Christian Democrats want to support housing construction.

The amendment to the Energy Act, submitted by a group of MPs led by Industry Minister Lukáš Vlček (STAN), is intended to help speed up the construction of combined-cycle gas power plants. It could shorten the permitting process by up to five years. Gas-fired plants are expected to provide sufficient electricity generation capacity as coal is phased out.

One amendment, proposed by STAN MP Tomáš Müller and other coalition MPs, aims to rectify a situation caused by the previous amendment to the Energy Act, known as Lex OZE III. When approving technical legislative changes, the Chamber of Deputies prevented Prague from issuing its own building regulations. Senators therefore sent the previous amendment back to the Chamber of Deputies, but MPs overruled them. The current proposal is intended to correct this.

Another proposal by Müller also responds to the previously approved amendment to the Energy Act, which is now awaiting the president’s signature. Among other things, it introduces individual profitability reviews for solar power plants built in 2009 and 2010. This is intended to help the government save money on support for renewable energy sources. However, MPs are proposing to narrow the group of plants subject to the reviews by raising the installed capacity threshold from the current 30 kW to 145 kW.

Christian Democrat MP Jiří Horák wants to add a provision to the Building Act stating that the permitting and construction of residential buildings and related infrastructure in areas designated for development are matters of public interest. He says a swift response is needed to the worsening problems with housing affordability. However, Václav Král, an MP from the coalition partner Civic Democratic Party (ODS), described his proposal as an unrelated add-on.

The Pirates have submitted an amendment introducing fees for wind farms. The fee would be based on installed capacity, multiplied by a coefficient used for property tax. It would be paid annually, with the revenue going to the municipality in whose cadastral area the wind farm is located. The Pirates say this would strengthen municipalities’ position when negotiating with investors over wind farm construction. „This is a path to the Czech Republic’s energy security, which is why we are submitting it,“ said Pirate deputy speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Olga Richterová.

Christian Democrat MP Róbert Teleky wants to speed up the permitting of wind farms. A group of four or more wind turbines would be permitted under the category of structures for energy security. ODS MP Jan Bureš proposes amending the ban on electricity-dumping devices so that it does not apply retroactively. He says devices installed earlier should be granted an exemption.

A group of MPs led by Culture Minister Martin Baxa (ODS) wants to extend the ability to issue building regulations to Plzeň and Liberec as well. Baxa is a former mayor of Plzeň, while Jan Berki (STAN) and MP Jarmila Levko (STAN) are both former Liberec municipal councillors.