A windmill of 230 metres high, taller than the Cologne cathedral, and situated just 750 metres away from residential houses: Could this windmill project in Burden bring the Nordstad municipality merger to a standstill?

The question was raised by Erpeldange mayor Claude Gleis, who expressed concerns about the plan at a press conference. He criticized the lack of transparency and dialogue surrounding the project, along with the neighboring municipalities of Diekirch and Ettelbrück.

Gleis believes that there are better locations for the windmill, suggesting an alternative site in the Fridbësch valley. The community father feels betrayed by Ettelbrück and Diekirch for their insistence on the Burden location and their disregard for alternative proposals. He also believes that there is a lack of political will to develop a long-term joint energy concept, which harms the trust between the partner communities.

In response, the mayor of Ettelbrück, Jean-Paul Schaaf, expressed surprise and contradicted Gleis. He stated that the council of Erpeldange was involved in the analysis of the project and that they agreed to continue the analyses before making a final decision. There seems to be a disagreement between the two mayors.

"All this is poison for a relationship of trust between partners," said Gleis.

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Nordstad merger in jeopardy

The windmill project has become a contentious issue, affecting the cooperation between the communities in Nordstad. Gleis fears that the merger talks between the municipalities may be in jeopardy. Schaaf, on the other hand, believes that the discussion should consider the future of the country, including the climate crisis and energy supply, rather than focusing solely on the local impact.

Members of the citizens' initiative "Energie mat Verstand" raised concerns about various aspects of the project, including infrasound, audible sound, shadow, fire danger, and adherence to standards and studies. They emphasised the need for studies on the potential health impacts on citizens.

"Bats or a bird of prey can topple a windmill project in Luxembourg. But the influence on the health of citizens is not even the subject of studies," said Georges Pott, vice-president of "Energie mat Verstand".

Complaints in court

The case has been taken up by the administrative court since 25 February.

As the Minister for Energy and Regional Planning, Claude Turmes reminded everyone that the country operates under the rule of law. The company responsible for the project has obtained the necessary approvals to build the windmill. A complaint has been filed, and the court will make a decision in January.