Cabinet wants two new nuclear power plants, data centers to be restricted | Inland

This is apparent from the coalition agreement of VVD, D66, CDA and CU. “We will continue to use energy, but we will switch to energy sources that do not emit greenhouse gases and we will focus on energy savings,” the parties promise. “In this way, after 2030, we will quickly work towards a fully climate-neutral energy supply. This enables us to quickly reduce fossil fuels while at the same time guaranteeing security of supply and affordability.”

The parties want the Netherlands to be a ‘leader in Europe’ in combating global warming. “To be climate neutral by 2050 at the latest, we are tightening the target for 2030 in the Climate Act to at least a 55 percent CO2 reduction.” That is the same goal as the European Union has set. “In order to certainly achieve this goal, we agree to focus our policy on a higher task, which amounts to approximately 60 percent by 2030.”

Nuclear energy

Nuclear energy can supplement solar, wind and geothermal energy in the energy mix and can be used for the production of hydrogen. “It also makes us less dependent on gas imports. That is why the nuclear power plant in Borssele will remain open longer, with an eye for safety, of course. In addition, this cabinet is taking the necessary steps for the construction of two new nuclear power plants.” It is not yet in the plans where they will be.

Datacenters

At the moment there is also a heated debate about expanding the number of large data centers, for example of foreign tech giants. They have their eye on good agricultural land in, among others, the Wieringermeer (Hollands Kroon) and Zeewolde.

VVD, D66, CDA and CU believe that such data halls “make a disproportionate burden on the available sustainable energy in relation to the social and/or economic added value. That is why we are tightening the national management and the admission criteria when granting permits for this.”

Windturbines

New distance standards must be introduced for onshore wind turbines, now that the Dutch are more often bothered by noise nuisance and cast shadows near such machines. The Council of State annulled decisions now that clear standards are lacking. “Given the scarce space available, we are mainly focusing on large-scale installation of solar panels on roofs, including standards. We only allow solar panels on land if multifunctional use of that land is possible, for example on government land.”

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