Chodov in Czechia to assess wind farm construction offer

Chodov will consider an offer to build wind turbines within the city’s cadastral area. A sister company of Sokolovská uhelná, SUAS GROUP, wants to build five turbines on the Smolnice spoil heap as part of a project with ČEZ. The city wants to have all the information first so it can decide whether to support or reject the project. City Hall also wants to hear residents’ views, Chodov Mayor Patrik Pizinger (Místní) told the Czech News Agency.

The city’s leadership briefed councillors on plans for a wind farm that would be located within the cadastral areas of several municipalities. A working group has also been set up to assess the conditions for construction, the mayor said. „We’ll discuss what kind of towers are proposed, how they would affect the view of the Smolnice spoil heap, and what impact they would have on life in the city. We’ll also naturally want to know what compensation Chodov might receive and how the energy would be used,“ Pizinger said.

Along with solar power, wind power is one of the renewable energy sources SUAS GROUP plans to focus on in the future as brown coal mining is phased down. Unlike solar panels, however, wind turbines do not depend on daylight and can supply electricity continuously. They also take up less space than solar panels.

According to Pizinger, the city will first request all the necessary information and present it to residents. It then plans to ask residents for their views on the possible construction of wind turbines on the Smolnice spoil heap, either through a survey or a local referendum.