Valga municipality wind farm specific plan

The purpose of the EP is to select the most suitable locations for the construction of the wind farm and the infrastructure necessary for its operation, and to determine the conditions for the construction of the wind farm and the infrastructure serving it, including the assessment of relevant impacts, including a strategic environmental assessment.

The EP and the SEA have been carried out in a planning area of 7 400 ha, which includes parts of the villages of Mustumetsa, Killinge, Kiviküla, Uniküla, Õruste, Tõlliste and Sooru in Valga municipality. The analysis of the noise propagation areas (standard noise zones based on the night-time target value for industrial noise) during the preparation of the plan revealed the need to increase the planning area in the direction of the village of Sooru by about 100 ha in order to include the modelled noise-affected area in the planning area. The size of the planning area submitted for public consultation is approximately 7 500 ha. 

During the EP preparation and the SEA assessment, it has been identified that the most suitable sites for the wind farm are TU2, TU3 and TU4 (the history of suitable sites is described in chapter 3.1 of the EP and presented in the main drawing). The wind turbines were not planned for TU1 for reasons of bird protection. The pre-selection sites TU2, TU3 and TU4 may be developed with six, nine and three wind turbines respectively (up to a total of 18), with a maximum permissible top height of 270m. For the construction of wind turbines, the specific plan has designated basic locations in the pre-selection areas. A 50 m variation in the location of the wind turbine is allowed in the design, but other conditions set out in the plan must be respected. In the locations proposed in principle, the plan is feasible.

Approximate locations of the infrastructure required for the wind farm are given in the planning, and the locations of the buildings can be specified in the design based on the conditions set in the planning. Infrastructure serving the wind farm may also be built outside the pre-selection and planning areas. The plan sets out the principles for the construction of the wind farm's interconnection substation and the connecting cable route. A transmission line will be installed in the same corridor as the electricity cable. Access roads with a high load-bearing capacity and permanent access will be required for the construction of the wind turbines and subsequent maintenance. The planning solution provides a basic solution for access roads starting from a public road. The plan sets out the conditions for the provision of fire-fighting water points. The minimum distance from the wind turbine to the water source is 3 km.

During the preparation of the EP, the noise propagation zones of the wind farm have been calculated and the noise emission standard areas (noise category) based on the night-time target value for industrial noise have been proposed. The noise standard zones are divided into three categories: an area where no recreational facilities or quiet areas can be planned (>35 dBA); an area where, in addition to the above, no educational, health and social facilities, residential areas and green areas can be planned (>40 dBA); an area where, in addition to the above, no town centre areas and no public buildings can be planned (>45 dBA). This means that no future construction of e.g. dwellings can take place in the two areas closest to the wind farm without additional noise mitigation measures. The construction of dwellings in these areas will be allowed, provided that construction techniques are demonstrated at the time of design or planning of the new building to ensure that the noise target is met. The construction of recreational facilities is possible outside the areas of designated noise standard levels. It is the responsibility of the person interested in the planning to ensure, during design and construction, that the target noise levels are not exceeded in the standard zones.

Based on the conditions set out in the SEA, the EP sets out conditions for the further design of the wind farm to minimise impacts related to shading, visual impacts and impacts on vegetation, birdlife, bats, ecosystems, green network, water, soil and humus, climate, cultural values and communication services. The plan also addresses the issues of climate proofing, water body construction exclusion zones and waste generation.

The SEA report has identified suitable areas for the construction of the wind farm in terms of environmental impacts. Chapter 4 of the SEA report analyses the expected environmental impacts of the wind turbines and the infrastructure inside the wind farm. The expected co-benefits have been assessed in terms of the natural environment (flora, fauna, birds, bats, ecosystem condition and biodiversity, green network including animal habitat connectivity, wildlife, protected areas, water, soil including valuable agricultural land), climate, cultural heritage, existing infrastructure, human health, well-being and property, and landscape.

In the light of the EP and the content of the SEA, it can be confirmed that the most suitable sites for the wind farm, including wind turbines, are TU2, TU3 and TU4. The siting of the wind turbines, the general conditions for their erection, the pre-selection process, the decision taken on the basis of the pre-selection process and the first stage report of the SEA comply with the legislation in force. The information provided in the SEA Phase I report has also been sufficient to make a choice between the different sites considered. The planning solution provides confidence that the plan is feasible subject to the conditions imposed, including mitigation and monitoring measures.

Valga municipality wind farm special planning and strategic environmental assessment (SEA) the parties to the procedure:

• The initiator and promoter is the Valga Municipal Council,
• Prepared by Valga Municipality Government,
• AB Artes Terrae OÜ is the developer of the plan,
• Strategic Environmental Assessment prepared by LEMMA OÜ,
• Interested party Sunly Wind OÜ.

The planning procedure is public. Anyone has the right to participate in the planning procedure, to be involved in the procedure and to give their opinion on the draft plan. If you wish to be involved in the planning procedure or have an opinion, you can send an e-mail to Valga municipality at the following address  or to the postal address Puiestee tn 8, Valga town, Valga municipality, 68203 Valgamaa.

The procedure of the Valga municipality wind farm specific planning and the preparation of the Strategic Environmental Assessment has been financed by the European Union Next Generation EU funds, measure "Empowering local governments in green investments", project "Empowering the Valga municipality wind farm specific planning procedure".