In the participation process that starts this week, all stakeholders – from individual residents to interest groups and nature and environmental organisations – can contribute their wishes, interests and concerns about possible locations for wind turbines and solar fields. Energiek Alphen aan den Rijn (EA) is eagerly looking forward to the so-called street conversations and information meetings that will be held in the coming weeks.

“We are pleased with a good participation round, in which both the facts and the interests of residents and organisations are clearly outlined. Based on the facts, the municipal council can make well-considered decisions about the location of new wind turbines and solar fields,” says EA chairman Erik de Ruijter. He adds: “It is evident that difficult choices have to be made.”

Collaboration

As a local energy cooperative, EA is committed to making Alphen aan den Rijn energy neutral by 2050, in line with the municipality's objective. Both parties signed a cooperation agreement to this effect last month. EA's route follows three tracks: 1) saving energy and preventing energy waste, 2) generating, storing and sharing sustainable energy, and 3) raising awareness of energy issues among residents of the municipality and encouraging them to adapt their behaviour accordingly. Energiek Alphen aan den Rijn is currently implementing various projects along these tracks.

All residents and stakeholders are invited to participate in street discussions and information meetings as part of the participation process. In the run-up to this, various parties are already making their voices heard in the media. “The subject is a hot topic. As the board and volunteers of Energiek Alphen aan den Rijn, we also have our commitment Our starting point is to generate as much of the energy we use in the municipality as possible in a sustainable manner within the municipality itself. Our aim is to make Alphen aan den Rijn energy neutral by 2050.”

Informing, encouraging, innovating and collaborating are key elements of EA's approach to raising residents“ awareness of energy issues and involving them in the solutions. ”You can start implementing energy-saving measures and preventing energy waste in your own home today,“ says EA board member and Energy Coach Frank van Oudenhove. ”Do you find that difficult? Then request a consultation with our Energy Coaches. This service is free and independently available to owners and tenants. We provide lots of tips on ways to save energy and, if desired, help residents implement measures, including when it comes to financing and subsidies."

Energy communities

Another initiative is the generation and sharing of sustainable energy by energy communities. In these communities, residents, businesses and organisations from a neighbourhood or village work together to meet their own local energy needs. “In this way, they ensure local security of supply at affordable energy prices and relieve the national energy grid,” says board member Menno Stijl. Under his leadership, Energiek Alphen is currently conducting a pilot scheme in Benthuizen, where residents, businesses, associations and churches are participating. Stijl: “We are working together to develop sustainable ways of generating and sharing energy, tailored to everyone's individual needs. We are a Local4Local pilot project. If it is successful, we will roll it out to many more neighbourhoods and communities in Alphen.”

Back to the participation process. “We believe that when it comes to new locations for wind turbines and solar parks, residents should also decide together how and where sustainable energy is generated. All areas in the municipality should be eligible, not just the areas initially designated in the RES,” says Erik de Ruijter. The abbreviation stands for the Regional Energy Strategy, which was amended and adopted by the municipal council in 2021. Initially, space for wind turbines and solar fields was mainly sought along the N11 and on the ITC/PCT site near Hazerswoude-Dorp and Boskoop. Last year, the municipal council decided that other areas should also be considered, and EA fully supports this decision.

Limiting and compensating for nuisance

The board of Energiek Alphen aan den Rijn adds that nuisance to residents and nature must be minimised and compensated for as much as possible. The opinions of residents in the immediate vicinity of a location for wind turbines and solar parks also carry more weight in the choice of an area than the opinions of residents who live further away. “Incidentally, we also want to take into account the interests of residents who are unable to participate financially in an energy community. This will contribute to the acceptance of the final choices that have to be made. Not taking a decision is not an option, because then the province will designate areas,” says De Ruijter.

To further increase support, Energiek Alphen aan den Rijn advocates for at least fifty percent local ownership of new wind turbines and solar parks. Menno Stijl: “When an energy community is a co-owner, residents benefit directly from the proceeds. We don't want the profits to go solely to the (foreign) energy companies that operate them, or to the manufacturers of wind turbines and solar panels. Local ownership offers opportunities to create support and can make limited nuisance acceptable to residents.”

Survey by the municipality of Alphen aan den Rijn

The municipality of Alphen aan den Rijn would like to know what its residents consider important when it comes to the placement of wind turbines and solar parks. You can fill in a questionnaire for this purpose. Click here to participate in this survey. The answers will be processed anonymously and used solely for the participation process. Completing the questionnaire takes approximately 10 minutes (until 7 March 2025).