The town of Markdorf, located in the Lake Constance district, is suspending its plans for wind turbines on the Gehrenberg for the time being. Mayor Georg Riedmann informed the town council of the halt in planning on October 6, 2026. The decision stems from ongoing uncertainty regarding how to proceed with the controversial project. Consequently, the town is deferring decisions on both the leasing of municipal forest land and a potential referendum. Deliberations are not expected to resume before the spring of 2027. This delays the potential construction of wind turbines on the Gehrenberg by at least several months.
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Wind power project at Gehrenberg halted for now
The municipal administration is taking this step in response to unresolved questions regarding wind energy utilization. As recently as this summer, the city council had been deliberating on the potential leasing of municipal land. Now, however, the decision has been postponed until next year. A previously discussed referendum will also not take place for the time being.
Yet the site at Gehrenberg is already part of regional wind energy planning. The Lake Constance-Upper Swabia Regional Association has designated the area as a priority zone (WEA-435-003). The relevant partial regional plan came into effect on January 26, 2026. However, this designation does not oblige the city to actually make its own land available for wind turbines.
Dispute over forest areas and public participation
A decision on how to proceed had already stalled on July 21, 2026. The “Freie Wähler” (Free Voters) had submitted a last-minute request for a citizens’ referendum. Consequently, the municipal council removed the planned resolution from the agenda. Other political groups had previously favored different approaches to public participation.
At the same time, opposition to the planned use of the Gehrenberg area emerged among the local population. Around 60 people demonstrated in front of the town hall in July against potential wind turbines. Opponents cited, in particular, the encroachment on the forest and potential impacts on wildlife. They also demanded a thorough review before any long-term decisions regarding municipal land were made.
Wind power expansion meets municipal decision-making autonomy
The Markdorf case illustrates a fundamental conflict in the expansion of wind power. Regional planning authorities designate suitable sites, while municipalities make decisions regarding their own land. Consequently, the designation of a priority area does not automatically equate to approval for specific turbines. Project developers must also meet technical, economic, and nature conservation requirements.
In Markdorf, the use of the wooded Gehrenberg area is a particular point of contention. Wind turbines require foundations, access roads, and areas for assembly and cranes. Construction work can therefore cause permanent changes to the forest structure. However, the actual extent of such encroachment on the Gehrenberg can only be determined once specific turbine locations and construction plans have been established.
Regional Association Designates 39 Wind Power Zones
The regional expansion plan encompasses a total of 39 priority zones covering approximately 6,491 hectares. This represents about 1.85 percent of the land area in the Lake Constance-Upper Swabia region. In doing so, the regional association meets the statutory land-use targets for wind energy. However, this designation does not yet indicate how many turbines will actually be built or the amount of electricity they will eventually generate.
Consequently, Markdorf has not definitively ruled out the construction of wind turbines. Nevertheless, key municipal decisions remain pending until at least the spring of 2027. As long as the city does not lease out land, project developers cannot utilize these municipal sites based on lease agreements. The conflict between regional expansion targets, forest conservation, and municipal autonomy therefore remains unresolved.
Author: Blackout News
Sources: Südkurier (07.10.26)