No to wind turbines – Kickl’s criticism of the “climate communists”

Saalbach-Hinterglemm, one of Salzburg’s largest tourist resorts, shows its green side on Thursday. At spring-like 13 degrees Celsius, winter sports enthusiasts dressed in down jackets carve down the artificial snow tires. On the opposite slope, in the Enzianstube of the Hotel Alpinjuwel, Herbert Kickl speaks of “climate communism” – another new word creation of the blue mouthpiece. The federal head of the FPÖ, who dreams of a “free people’s chancellor”, wants to make the “defense of ideologically driven climate policy” more central to liberal politics. According to Kickl, it is “impossible to cover everything from renewable energy”.

As usual, the ex-minister strongly criticizes the closure of coal-fired power plants, the sanctions against Russia and the ‘green eco-turn’ as drivers of inflation. Marlene Svazek, FPÖ top candidate for the upcoming state elections, agrees: “Climate neutrality is green populism and is not possible.” The blue leadership duo tackles the topic of renewable energy with rare clarity. In short: where it makes sense, solar energy and hydropower should be used. But certainly not wind turbines, which, according to the FPÖ, would only “damage” nature. Ironically, the mountain railways in Saalbach are planning to build wind turbines.

FPÖ on renewable energy: “Yes, but no wind turbines”
Svazek also addressed this project precisely: “If you put wind turbines here, the rotor blades will freeze.” Wind turbines in alpine areas are unthinkable for us. It just doesn’t make sense in Salzburg.’ Instead, she advocates the expansion of hydropower in this country and Salzburg AG’s participation in wind farms in eastern Austria.

Speaking of energy: according to Kickl, Austria should even drill for natural gas itself “instead of laying thousands of kilometers of pipelines”. So domestic gas supplies would last 30 to 40 years.