Power Plants - From Application

Transcription

1 Renewable e e Energies: es Establishing s Clean Power Plants - From Application Process to Dealing With Action Groups Tips for Investors Dr Sabine Pittrof, LL.B. (Univ. N.S.W.) Partner, Heymann & Partner Rechtsanwälte 2nd Australian-European Lawyers Conference Berlin 2nd & 3rd October 2009 Heymann & Partners

2 Overview I. Commercial Attraction of Renewable Energies II. Legal Framework for Establishing Power Plants III. Key Definitions IV. Application for Permit under Federal Immissions Control Act (BImSchG) V. Practical Tips for Investors 2

3 I. Commercial Attraction of Renewable Energies Promotion of Renewable Energies through Statutory Benefits Definition: Renewable energy (s 3 (3) Erneuerbare-Energien-Gesetz - EEG), i. a. hydropower, wind energy, solar energy, geothermal energy, biomass derived energy Guarantee of prior connection to public grid (s 5 EEG) Guarantee of purchase (former monopolists must purchase) (s 8 EEG) Guarantee of fixed payment (regularly above market price) (s 16 (1) EEG) Basic payment (depending on energy source and capacity of plant) plus possible bonus- payments Note: continuous decrease of fixed payment amount (between 1 and 10 % per year), if start of operation of plant after 1 Jan

4 II. Legal Framework for Establishing Power Plants Influence of European / International Environmental Law on National Legislation Direct: EU - regulations, judgments of European Court of Justice Indirect (subject to national implementation): ti EU directives International ti conventions ( hard law ), such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 1992 declarations ( soft law ), such as the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development

5 II. II. Legal Framework for Establishing for Establishing Power Plants Power (cont d) Plants (cont d) Failing of Integrated Environmental Code in 2009 Patchwork of Applicable Environmental Legislation (Federal and State) Federal Immissions Control Act (Bundesimmissionsschutzgesetz = BImSchG), supporting regulations (BImSchV) and administrative rules (i.e. Technical Instruction on Air Qualitiy = TA Luft and Technical Instruction on Noise = TA Laerm) Environmental Impact Assessment Act (Umweltverträglichkeitsprüfungsgesetz = UVPG) Recycling and Waste Management Act (Kreislaufwirtschafts-i l f i t h ft und dabfallgesetz = KW KrW- /AbfG) and supporting regulations (e.g. Wood Waste Regulation = AltholzV) Federal and State Water Acts (Wasserhaushaltsgesetz & Landeswassergesetze = WHG and LWG, respectively) Federal and State Nature Conservation Acts (Bundes- & Landes-Naturschutzgesetze = BNatSchG and LNatSchG, respectively) Federal and State Administrative i i Procedures Acts (Verwaltungsverfahrensgesetz l f h = VwVfG) Administrative Courts Act (Verwaltungsgerichtsordnung = VwGO); VwVfG & VwGO roughly equivalent to Australian ADJR Act. 5

6 II. Overview of Statutory Framework Relevant to Permit (Cogeneration Plant) Water Acts (Federal and State) Federal Immissions Control Act includes other permits (Konzentrationswirkung / concentration of Federal Environ- mental Impact Assessment Act approvals ) Construction Acts (Federal and State) Immissions Control Regulations and administrative rules Federal Waste Management Act Biodiversity Conservation Acts (Federal and State) 6

7 III. Key Sections of Federal Immissions Control Act Which Plants are Subject to Permit? => 4 BImSchG + Schedules (regular / simplified procedure) Legal Right to Permit, if conditions are met (s 6 (1) BImSchG), i.e. no substantial harmful effects on the environment no conflict with any other provisions of public law no conflict with any occupational health and safety concerns Harmful Effects on the Environment (s 3 (1) BImSchG = schädliche Umwelteinwirkungen) Any immissions which, because of their nature, extent or duration, are likely to cause hazards, significant ifi disadvantages d or significant ifi nuisances to the general public or neighbourhood. h 7

8 IV.1. Application Process under BImSchG Submission of Application Preliminary steps: Scoping Application consists of: Actual application form preparation 3 Maps to Submission of Application to competent public authority (state law) Declaration of completeness by public authority If necessary, separate permit under water law Details on Establishment / Operation of Plant Projected Emissions / Immissions Safety Waste / Sewage Environmental Impact Study 6 m o n t h s 8

9 IV.2. Application Process (cont d) - Public Participation Core steps: Administrative participation (other authorities) Public Participation (regular procedure) (+) (simplified procedure) (-) Administrative decision (Genehmigungsbescheid) usually in several steps Public announcement of application (öffentliche Bekanntmachung des Antrags) Public display (Auslegung) Public objections (Einwendungen) Public hearing (Erörterungstermin) Public announcement of official Decision (öffentliche Bekanntmachung der Entscheidung) Statutory max = 7 months as of submission / declaration of completeness 7 m o n t h s 9

10 IV.3. Application Process (cont d) - Challenging the Grant of an Approval Third party aggrieved, if objections raised Who can challenge decision? Recognised conservation organisation, if objections raised (restricted to provisions protecting third parties) Applicant, if negative decision or adverse conditions in decision 10

11 IV.4. Application Process (cont d) - Challenging the Grant of an Approval Two tier challenge Preliminary proceeding (Widerspruch) (public authority) partially repealed suspensive effect if unsuccessful Court action (administrative courts) suspensive effect 11

12 V.1. Tips for Investors (Acceleration of Process) Early Talk/Contact with competent Public Authority and ex ante submission of draft of application documents Legal Limitation of Duration for decision by authority Threshold of Irrelevance (Irrelevanz-Schwelle) Details on existing atmospheric load do not need to be collected, if projected immissions below threshold Pre-Approval (Vorbescheid) / Partial Approval (Teilgenehmigung) Application for Restoration of Approval s Legal Effects (Administrative Process / Court Process) (Antrag auf Aufhebung der aufschiebenden Wirkung / Sofortvollzug) Permission of Early Start of Construction (Zulassung vorzeitigen Beginns) 12

13 V.2. Tips for Investors (Dealing with Action Groups) Acceptance of Renewable Energies Demands for promotion of renewable energies on the one hand Local resistance on a regular basis ( not in my backyard ) on the other hand. 13

14 V.2. Tips for Investors (Dealing with Action Groups) Relations with Public What you will find: Negative image of power plants, even if clean tech Fears for health and safety Information and knowledge often distorted and not based on facts Professional opponents What you can do: Early consultation with public relations experts, have them presented at public hearing Staying in charge of information: leaflets, evenings, press contact Taking into account all players: politicians, action groups, authorities, etc. Legal means of rebutting false statements (defamation law / counterdeclaration [Gegendarstellung]) Reduction of emissions i below legal l limits i as give away during public hearing 14

15 Questions welcome! Contact: Dr Sabine Pittrof, LL.B. (Univ. N.S.W.) Heymann & Partner Rechtsanwälte Taunusanlage Frankfurt am Main, Germany P: +49 (0) E: s.pittrof@heylaw.de 15