{"id":3635,"date":"2025-09-04T16:35:27","date_gmt":"2025-09-04T13:35:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/valga.ee\/?page_id=3635"},"modified":"2025-09-04T16:35:29","modified_gmt":"2025-09-04T13:35:29","slug":"korduma-kippuvad-kusimused","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/valga.ee\/en\/ehitus-keskkond-teed\/ruumiline-planeerimine-ja-ehitus\/eriplaneering\/korduma-kippuvad-kusimused\/","title":{"rendered":"Frequently asked questions"},"content":{"rendered":"
What is a local authority specific plan? How is it different from a detailed plan and a general plan?<\/summary>\n

A local authority specific plan is a type of plan that is drawn up for the construction of buildings with a significant spatial impact. Examples include wind farms, sites for the incineration or disposal of hazardous waste or factories with significant impact (a list of which is established by the Government of the Republic of Latvia).\u00a0Regulation<\/a>). The specific plan selects a suitable location for such sites and develops a detailed planning solution that allows design and construction activities to proceed once the plan is adopted.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The specific plan therefore provides the answer to the question of whether, where and under what conditions a wind farm can be built.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A detailed plan is drawn up for a smaller area, e.g. based on a single plot. A detailed plan can determine the construction conditions for a wind farm if the wind farm is located in a master plan. A local authority specific plan is similar to a general plan in this respect, looking at a wider area but focusing on the siting and conditions for the construction of a specific facility with a significant spatial impact.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

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What are the initial views and the strategic environmental assessment (SEA) programme for a specific plan?<\/summary>\n

The initial positions of the local government specific planning are the starting point for the subsequent preparation of the basic planning solution. It defines the purpose of the planning process, the timetable, the parties to be involved, the infrastructure to be built for the site, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In turn, the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) programme is the starting point for assessing the impacts of planning. Among other things, it identifies the various studies that will be carried out to determine the environmental conditions and potential impacts of the planning area. The scope of the impact assessment, the impacts to be assessed and the methodology to be used, and, in particular, the impacts to be taken into account, are agreed with the public.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These documents therefore provide answers to the questions: what is the purpose of planning and what needs to be studied to achieve it.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

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In whose interest was such planning initiated, who are the stakeholders behind it?<\/summary>\n

The Estonian state is the biggest advocate of wind farms. In fact, the government has set a target of producing 100% of national electricity needs from renewable sources by 2030. Among these, wind energy is one of the most important. Wind farms will help to ensure better energy security for Estonia. Wind is a renewable energy, and producing energy from it is environmentally sustainable. That is why we need wind farms both offshore and onshore - and Valga municipality is no exception. Plans for wind farms have been initiated in several parts of Estonia (more information\u00a0On the Environment Portal<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Specific company interested in setting up in Valga municipality Herro wind farm<\/a> and who are prepared to make the necessary investments to do so are Sunly Wind<\/a>. Sunly, or the 'interested party' in this development, is an Estonian renewable energy company operating in the Baltics and Poland, and is known for seeking positive synergies between communities and wind farms.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

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How can you give your opinion on a specific plan? How long can you do this?<\/summary>\n

Planning procedures in Estonia are open to the public, and everyone has the right to participate in the planning procedure and to express their views on the plan. According to the Planning Act, there are also public hearings during the preparation of planning documents, during which it is possible to give an opinion on the planning solution and the materials submitted for publication. Notices of public hearings are published on the website of Valga municipality and in the newspaper L\u00f5una-Eesti Postimees. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to be involved in the planning process and receive notifications by e-mail or letter, please let us know by sending an e-mail to. valga@valga.ee<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

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Is there enough wind in Valga County to make it worthwhile to build a wind farm here?<\/summary>\n

The wind blows everywhere. Coastal areas do indeed have more wind than onshore, but if you look at the wind maps of Estonia, there is enough wind in Valga County to build wind farms. The difference is also that offshore and in the open countryside the wind turbines can be lower, while onshore wind turbines are built higher up and catch the wind above the forest without having to clear the forest en masse. A preliminary estimate suggests that a maximum of 1 to 2 hectares of forest will need to be cleared for one wind turbine and associated infrastructure.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

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How tall are the wind turbines to be here?<\/summary>\n

The final height of the wind turbines will be decided during the specific planning process. Initially, there is talk of wind turbines with a top height of up to 270 metres. Tip height means the maximum height above the ground when one blade is directly upright. For example, a wind turbine with a blade height of 180 metres and a blade length of 90 metres would have a top height of 270 metres.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The higher the nacelle of the wind turbine, the stronger and more stable the wind and the more efficient the production. Efficient production means that the wind turbine will run for more hours and ultimately the cost of the energy produced will be cheaper. Higher wind turbines also disturb nature and the noise they make is less disturbing to people.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

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Exactly where in our municipality are wind turbines going to be erected? What are the possible areas?<\/summary>\n

The territory where wind turbines can be erected in Valga municipality is the area between V\u00e4ike Emaj\u00f5gi and Tartu highway. The planning area is within the territory of the villages of Sooru, T\u00f5lliste, \u00d5ruste, Unik\u00fcla, Kivik\u00fcla, Mustumetsa and Killinge. Map reference<\/a> <\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

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How big is this area in total, how many hectares, where can wind turbines be built?<\/summary>\n

Today's planning area is about 7400 hectares. This does not mean that all of this area will be covered by wind turbines, but that suitable sites for wind turbines will be sought within this area. Taking into account the area's fauna, flora and human settlements, the initial spatial analysis has today identified four sites within this total area where wind turbines could potentially be planned. These sites have been identified by excluding non-suitable areas. These areas will be specified during the planning process.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

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Will these wind turbines all come in one place, or in several? How many wind turbines in total will be put up here?<\/summary>\n

These questions will be answered in the specific planning process. The wind turbines may not all come from the same place, but may be alone or in small groups, depending on the results of the impact assessments. However, a common infrastructure will be created to make them a single wind farm. During the preparation of the baseline for the specific plan, an initial spatial analysis was carried out and four areas were selected as potential sites for wind turbines.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

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Won't these wind turbines jam border guards' radars?<\/summary>\n

Current radars can really start to jam. Wind turbines can only be erected in Valga municipality after 2025, when half of the municipality will be free of the old radar restrictions. The upgraded airborne surveillance system will free a large part of Estonia from the height restrictions on wind turbines.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

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What will be the basis for choosing where wind turbines will and will not go? Are these criteria already in place?<\/summary>\n

The baseline assessment and the environmental impact assessment programme of the specific plan explain in more detail how potentially suitable wind sites will be identified and how the principle locations of wind turbines and infrastructure will be determined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unsuitable areas for wind farms are areas in the immediate vicinity of dwellings (generally 1km minimum distance), near protected species and protected areas, etc. The assessment of the impacts of wind farms will not only consider the centre as a natural environment, but in a broader context - relevant social and cultural impacts (including on human health) will also be assessed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The spatial solution of the specific plan will be put together on the basis of the spatial analysis, the results of the studies carried out and the strategic environmental assessment.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

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After all, wind turbines do make noise; how much is it exactly, and how are residents and wildlife going to be protected from it?<\/summary>\n

All moving mechanisms can produce sound. In view of the noise, shadow, etc. of rotating wind turbines, they are generally not sited closer than one kilometre from a residential building. However, if mitigating measures are taken or newer technologies are introduced, a wind turbine can be closer to a residence. Such moments will be decided in the specific planning. In any case, noise modelling will be carried out, which will also result in noise propagation maps. The aim is to avoid situations where noise standards are exceeded.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

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How are birds protected from rotating wind turbines?<\/summary>\n

As part of the planning and impact assessment process, an ornithological study will be carried out by ornithologists to assess the impacts of the wind farm on bird populations and, if negative impacts occur, to propose mitigation measures to protect birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, one possible mitigation measure is to equip wind turbines with a monitoring system that significantly slows down and, if necessary, stops the wind turbine when large birds of prey (eagles, etc.) approach.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

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Do these wind turbines work all the time?<\/summary>\n

Does not work. The wind turbines start automatically when the wind speed exceeds 3m\/sec and switch off when the wind speed exceeds 25m\/sec.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

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What will local residents get from these wind turbines?<\/summary>\n

In 2023, the state developed the Environmental Disturbance Compensation Charge, which is a charge for generating electricity from wind energy. The owner of the wind farm has to pay a financial fee to the local authority on whose territory the wind farm is located. Part of the fee is paid to residents living in the area affected by the wind farm. In particular, the municipality has to distribute half of the fee for the onshore wind farm among the households in the vicinity of the wind farm. The compensation will be paid to dwellings that are less than two kilometres from a wind turbine of up to 250 metres and more than three kilometres from a wind turbine of more than 250 metres. The size of the compensation depends on how much energy the wind turbines produce, the price of electricity and the number of inhabitants living in the affected area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to the statutory compensation, many developers propose a range of measures. Sunly Wind O\u00dc, the developer of the Herro wind farm in Valga municipality, has also proposed a number of ways to make the wind farm more beneficial for the community.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

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Will wind farms bring jobs to the area?<\/summary>\n

The construction and maintenance of the wind farm will create new jobs that may or may not come to the area. Cheaper electricity may also attract more businesses, which in turn will create jobs. During the construction of the wind farm, indirect jobs will be created in the hospitality and catering sectors.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

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When will the erection of wind turbines start?<\/summary>\n

Wind turbines can be installed in Valga after 2025. Then half of the municipality's territory will be exempt from radar restrictions.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

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The effects of the wind farm in Valga municipality extend to T\u00f5rva municipality. How are the T\u00f5rva municipality and the residents of T\u00f5rva municipality involved?<\/summary>\n

The Valga Municipality Government has involved the T\u00f5rva Municipality Government in the procedure of the Valga Municipality wind farm special planning. All the notifications and information related to the special plan will be sent to T\u00f5rva Municipality Government. T\u00f5rva Municipality has the right to express its opinion on the special plan. As with the property owners in Valga municipality, the owners of properties in T\u00f5rva municipality, whose properties are less than 3 km from the proposed wind farm, are also involved in the special planning procedure. All landowners were informed of the completion of the specific plan and the opportunity to express their views. At the same time, everyone has the opportunity to be involved in the planning procedure by sending an e-mail to Valga municipality's e-mail address.\u00a0valga@valga.ee<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

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Will the electricity production fee for wind energy related to the place of residence be extended to residents of T\u00f5rva municipality?<\/summary>\n

Yes, also for residents of the municipality of T\u00f5rva who own a dwelling up to 3 km away from a wind turbine and this is the owner's place of residence according to the population register, the charge for the production of electricity from wind energy related to the place of residence is extended. The payment and the amount of the charge are regulated by the Environmental Charges Act.<\/a>. More information on the Environment Agency's website<\/a>\u00a0<\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n<\/details>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":3596,"menu_order":2,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"slim_seo":{"title":"Korduma kippuvad k\u00fcsimused - Valga vald","description":"Mis asi on kohaliku omavalitsuse eriplaneering? Mille poolest erineb see detailplaneeringust ja \u00fcldplaneeringust? Kohaliku omavalitsuse eriplaneering on planeer"},"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3635","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/valga.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3635","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/valga.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/valga.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/valga.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/valga.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3635"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/valga.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3635\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3648,"href":"https:\/\/valga.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3635\/revisions\/3648"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/valga.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3596"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/valga.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3635"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}