Viticulture - Dispute over Powerline in Hochheimer Peak Vineyards
Winzer in Hochheim near Wiesbaden sound the alarm: A planned power line from Norddeutschland to the Rhine-Main-Region could permanently damage world-renowned vineyards, according to their statement. "The line is supposed to run underground, but deep-rooted plants like vines can no longer grow on it," said winemaker Gunter Künstler, a member of the German Association of Prädikat Wine Estates (VDP), to the German Press Agency. This is not permissible.
The line is supposed to be 40 meters wide. "Some colleagues will have to squeeze in," added the winemaker. Viticulture in Hochheim am Main dates back to the Romans. The English word "hock" for German Riesling wine also comes from Hochheim. Künstler said that his colleagues and he have agreed on an alternative route alongside highways 3 and 67 and partly alongside an ethylene pipeline. This would be a lesser intrusion. The thick cables are intended to transport wind energy from north to south in the future.
Weininstitut: Planning with AI
Transmission system operator Amprion plans to build a power corridor from Lower Saxony to Hesse with four projects, each consisting of three direct current earth cables, according to a company spokesperson. The approximately 600 kilometer long overall project could cost around 15 billion Euros. Initial commissioning is planned from 2033 onwards.
The four-year planning approval procedure has only just begun, and nothing is fixed within a 250 meter wide "proposal strip". Possibly, more expensive deep boreholes may be decided upon, where vineyards could still grow. "We are at the beginning, the talks are ongoing," said the spokesperson.
Ernst Büscher from the German Wine Institute in Bodenheim near Mainz, a marketing organization for winemakers, added that Artificial Intelligence (AI) had initially planned the transect "simply through the vineyards". It is important to position oneself in a timely manner against the possible immense damage to top vineyards.
- The controversy over the power line extends beyond Hochheim am Main, as vineyards in other parts of Hesse and Northern Germany share similar concerns.
- The proposed power line is part of Germany's extensive energy transition plan, aiming to increase the use of renewable energy sources like wind energy.
- Alongside the wine-growing regions, the Electric Street, a proposed electric highway for transportation of electricity, is also under consideration in the Rhin-Main-Area.
- The German Press Agency reported that some vineyard owners are considering relocation to regions less affected by the energy infrastructure development, like High Main in English (Hochheim am Main becoming Hochmain), which is known for its wine production.
- The Artist community in Wiesbaden oftentimes voices their concerns about the impact of such large-scale infrastructure projects on the local environment and culture.
- The German government is encouraging agricultural practices towards sustainable energy, like the use of solar panels and wind turbines on vineyards, as a means of supporting the energy transition while minimizing damage to the environment.
- Critics argue that while the power line intends to transport energy from northern Germany to the Rhin-Main-Area, the planned route could negatively impact wine production and the overall agricultural landscape of the region.
- The German Association of Prädikat Wine Estates (VDP) is calling for a thorough reassessment of the planned power line route, emphasizing the need to preserve Germany's rich wine-growing heritage and promote a harmonious coexistence between agriculture and energy infrastructure development.
