Extensive investigations

 

A major project like the construction of a new power plant must of course undergo an extensive, public approval process which very closely scrutinizes and assesses the impact of the new construction on all subjects of protection. The process of approval involves all who are affected by the project in the broadest sense of the word: the federal state, the local government authorities and the population.

 

Regional Impact Assessment Procedure
 
Furthermore a regional impact assessment procedure has been carried out for the planned block 6. It has been finished in June 2009. The Authorities arrived at the conclusion that block 6 fulfils the requirements of regional planning when certain requirements will be followed. The main requirements are as follows:

• E.ON has to go far below the limits established by law and has to follow the assurance that after block 6 is taken into service fewer pollutants will be released into the air than in recent years. That means that after commissioning of block 6 the total emission of dust, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide has to be lower than on average of the years 1996-2006.
  
• The old power plants 1-3 have to go definitively out of order after commissioning of block 6.
  
• It is not allowed to use any other fuel than hard coal.
  
• The possibility to upgrade the new block 6 with carbon capture technology has to be given.
  
• District heating has to be extended as far as possible.

The result of the regional impact assessment procedure also contains a number of indications for the following permission procedure under the Federal Immission Control Legislation.
 
Approval Procedure
 
The permission procedure under the Federal Immission Control Legislation started in July 2009. The application documents consisting of 20 folders lay open to public inspection. Everybody had the opportunity to hand in his objections and concerns. In November 2009 the objections were discussed in public during a hearing in Großkrotzenburg community center.

 

At the end of the year 2010 the Regierungspräsidium Darmstadt, which is the Authority in charge, has given the permission to build the new power station.