WARSAW (Reuters) -Polish President Karol Nawrocki will not sign into law legislation to ease rules on building onshore wind farms, his spokesperson told the Polish Press Agency (PAP) on Monday.
The government has said the bill is crucial for boosting renewable power production and cutting electricity prices after the previous conservative administration blocked development of onshore wind for most of its eight years in power.The bill would cut the distance required between planned installations and residential locations, while maintaining tighter restrictions for projects close to protected natural areas. It also includes a clause that freezes energy prices for households until the end of the year.
“This solution will certainly not get the president’s approval,” presidential spokesperson Rafal Leskiewicz told PAP, adding that Nawrocki would present his own proposal on freezing power prices.
Nawrocki is backed by the former ruling party, the conservative, eurosceptic Law and Justice (PiS) and is opposed to the centrist government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk. The Polish president has the ability to veto laws.
Renewable energy production has been growing in Poland at the expense of coal-fired power, though the latter still dominates the mix, pushing up electricity prices due to associated carbon emission costs. In 2024, nearly 30% of Polish electricity was generated from renewable sources.
(Reporting by Marek StrzeleckiEditing by Gareth Jones Editing by Gareth Jones)
