Our contribution to the participation process

During the participation process, the council gathered the concerns and wishes of residents and stakeholders. As the board of Energiek Alphen aan den Rijn, we drafted a statement about our commitment. The basic idea is to generate as much of the energy we use in the council as possible in a sustainable way within the council itself. “All the (sports) organisations involved and the residents must decide together how, where and under what conditions this should happen,” says EA chairman Erik de Ruijter. “Our statement includes the requirement to consider all areas in the municipality. Nuisance to residents and nature must be limited 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. This is to increase support.”

Furthermore, Energiek Alphen aan den Rijn advocates at least fifty percent local ownership of new wind turbines and solar parks. “Local ownership offers opportunities to create support and can make limited nuisance acceptable to residents,” says De Ruijter. Read here more.

Results of the participation process

The municipality of Alphen aan den Rijn recently announced the ‘results’ of the participation process regarding future locations for wind turbines and solar parks. In summary: many residents indicate that ‘something must be done’, but they also have concerns. There is also a group that is completely opposed to solar fields and wind turbines in particular. The emphasis differs per neighbourhood, but there are clear common themes.

Walk-in meetings and street conversations were held in all parts of the municipalities. Residents were also able to complete an online questionnaire. The results are presented in detail in the participation report. You can request the participation report from the municipality. To do so, please send an email to duurzaamheidsloket@alphenaandenrijn.nl.

“The results of the participation process clearly show which points need to be taken into account, both in the choice of locations and in the design of the installations. Although you can never please everyone, this does provide a framework for the requirements that locations and installations must meet,” said EA chairman Erik de Ruijter in response to the results of the participation process. Read here further.

Municipality determines conditions and preferred locations for wind turbines

The council has now looked at which locations meet the conditions for wind turbines and has identified seven possible areas. The municipality has examined these locations and intends to submit two of them to the province. These are Polder Steekt (or Steektpolder) along the N11 between Alphen aan den Rijn and Zwammerdam, and the Hoogeveensepolder and the edge of the Bentwoud (between the ITC-PCT business park and the HSL line, in the southern half of the polder). For both areas, the exact location of the wind turbines still needs to be determined. It is also important to note that these areas should not be used exclusively for energy generation. Other functions must also remain possible.

The province ultimately decides which sites it designates for wind turbines and whether it will adhere to the municipalities' preferred locations.

The municipality may wish to enter into discussions with the province about three other possible areas, which also involve neighbouring municipalities: Vierambachtspolder (north of the N207 and Ridderbuurt), Nieuwkoopsepolder (northeast of Aarlanderveen), Hondsdijkse and Lagenwaardsepolder (between Alphen aan den Rijn and Leiderdorp, north of the Oude Rijn). Locations that are expressly not preferred are: Zuid- and Noordeinderpolder (between Aarlanderveen and the Oude Rijn) and N11 southwest (south of the N11, west of Alphen aan den Rijn). Read here more.

This is what the sequel looks like

On 17 July (date subject to change), the municipal council will decide on the proposal from the municipality (mayor and aldermen) regarding the conditions and preferred locations for wind turbines. On 3 July (date subject to change), the documents will be discussed in advance by the Council Committee on Spatial and Economic Affairs. As many residents and organisations are expected to wish to speak, a separate hearing will be held on 24 June. Click here for further information about the hearing.

If the municipal council agrees to the conditions and preferred areas, the mayor and aldermen will submit them to the province. In the meantime, the province has conducted its own investigation into possible locations for wind turbines, including for other municipalities in the province of South Holland. The results of this investigation are expected to be made public in mid-June 2025. The province will compare its own findings with those of the municipalities. In October 2025, the province will then present a proposal for locations for wind turbines in our municipality. Residents will be able to respond to this proposal.

Conditions for installing solar fields + follow-up

Solar fields were also discussed during the participation process. The following conditions were agreed upon: first cover roofs and industrial sites, leave sufficient space for plants and animals, and ensure that solar fields are as inconspicuous as possible in the landscape. At Energiek Alphen aan den Rijn, we also opt for solar roofs first and solar fields as a second option. Preferably by doing so with 100 per cent local ownership, as we did with Zon op Alphen at Rijnvicus and Zeegersloot Golf Club. Unfortunately, we have not been offered any new roofs since 2019. Please register with bestuur@energiekalphen.nl if you would like to make a roof available for a solar installation!

After the summer recess, the Municipal Executive will continue to work on a plan to further promote solar panels on roofs. A policy framework with general rules for the installation of solar fields will also be drawn up. The municipal council will take decisions on this at the end of 2025.