Bystrá nad Jizerou is a municipality in the Semilsko area with about 120 inhabitants and a budget of roughly three million crowns.[1]
Referendum on wind turbines
The company NOHO Energy is planning to build up to three wind turbines near the municipality with a total output of up to 22 megawatts. According to the plan in the EIA system, the park could supply roughly 50 GWh of electricity to the grid per year.[1] The municipality signed an agreement on a joint project with the investor in November 2023. In the poll held at that time, 44 of 55 participants spoke in favor. The municipality was to receive 800 thousand crowns per year for each turbine.[1]
Concurrently with the municipal elections in October 2026, a referendum was held in the municipality. Residents were asked whether the municipality should not support wind turbines in its cadastral territory and whether the council should neither prepare nor issue an amendment to the zoning plan that would make them possible. 50 voters spoke against the company's plans, 43 supported the project. Turnout was 84.68 percent of 111 eligible persons. The vote is valid and binding on the council.[2]
According to its statement, the company acknowledges the result. It said it must explain the benefits of the turbines better and announced that it will address further steps with the new council. According to the company, the planning agreement with the municipality remains in force. The company also pointed out that a large number of new residents registered in the municipality before the elections.[1]
Chronology
- — In a referendum held concurrently with the municipal elections, residents of Bystrá nad Jizerou in the Semilsko area rejected support for wind turbines, whereas the referendum on a photovoltaic power plant in Ralsko was invalid because of low turnout. → iDNES.cz: Liberec Liberecká Drbna