Case Study 3: How Protests Can Delay Overhead Line Projects

The overhead line (OHL) transmission project through South Burgenland to Kainachtal (Steiermarkleitung) was proposed to transmit power between surplus generation in the north of Austria and consumption in the south. In addition, the project would have assisted in the European TENS programme to create a European-wide transmission grid. The project was designed to be 100% overhead lines and provoked considerable and ongoing protest:

• 1984 - Plans for the 90km 380kV line first mooted by Verbund
  
• 1988 - Opposition from municipalities commenced
  
• 1996 - Local referendum (51% of the eligible voters participated) and 93% opposed the OHL
  
• 1996 - Ministry of Economic Affairs commission expert opinions from Prof Edwin (Aachen) and Dr Glavitsch (Zurich) into the need for the line and Dr Kunze (Vienna) regarding EMFs. All concluded that the line should proceed
  
• 1997 - Styrian Provincial government commissions four expert reports to assess the importance of the project for the province
  
• 1998 - Expert reports presented, overall conclusion was "not to prevent the construction of the line," however an additional expert opinion was sought looking into alternatives to the 380kV line
  
• 2001 - Twenty-seven local communities agree to act in solidarity against the line
  
• 2003 - Regulator and Economics Affairs Minister (Bartenstein) call on the missing link to be completed; Verbund signs agreements with Steweag-Steg and Bewag to act as "partners"
  
• 2004 - Mayors of local communities submit 1,500 objections to the line
  
• 2004 - Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) including 26 sub-reports carried out
  
• 2004 - Hearings into the proposed line and Styrian government asks Ministry of Economy to re-study link with a 20km underground section
  
• 2005 - OHL proposals contained within the EIA deemed environmentally friendly by authorities in Burgenland & Styria, but prescribe 160 conditions that must be met. One-hundred-forty-nine appeals lodged against the decision. Final decision from Environmental Senate is expected at the end of 2006.