ALTÖTTING/MUNICH (dpa-AFX) - Despite the huge local opposition, Bavaria's Minister President Markus Soder remains firmly committed to the construction of the planned giant wind farm in Altotting. "Whether it comes with 41 or 39 wind turbines is open to debate, but it must come," said the CSU leader on Monday after a meeting of the party executive in Munich.

With regard to the ongoing talks being held by Economics Minister Hubert Aiwanger (Free Voters), Soder emphasized that he did not want to intervene in advance. "It is only important that the wind farm comes in the end and it must have substantial development."

All institutions involved in the Free State of Bavaria, including the Bavarian State Forestry, are now required to ensure that the implementation is feasible and not to create additional hurdles through decisions that are dangerous, said Soder. In general, however, he remains very optimistic, even if it is clear that implementation will "take a little time". "But the Minister of Economic Affairs is now on the way, finally, and is taking care of it." He assumes that a good result will be delivered in the end.

According to the plans, a wind farm with 40 turbines was to be built around Altotting. The wind turbines would generate enough electricity to supply 150,000 households. However, the wind turbines would primarily contribute to meeting the electricity needs of the chemical industry in the area. According to the plans, the wind farm would have the potential to cover around ten percent of demand. However, in a public consultation in the Upper Bavarian town of Mehring (Altotting district), the majority of residents voted against the wind farm - at least in their area. The "Gegenwind Altotting" initiative, which initiated the Mehring referendum, is planning further referendums in neighboring villages./had/DP/mis