Super Express August, 21 st, 2002
'Windmills under powering'

Energy- monopolists (Electricity Generating Boards and Polish Electric Power Industry Networks neither think to not even consider buying the power produced by small firms which invested into wind power-plants. "This is outrageous"- says Piotr Wiśniewski, a meber of the Management Board of the Energy –Eco company.

Windmills nearby Darłowo are still spinning, however do not earn money. Nobody is able to say, how long such situation will continue. As far as two years ago the windmill- business seemed to be as sure as a Swiss bank investment. Today, the greatest wind power-plants standing nearby Darłowo are still spinning, however no one seems to be willing to buy the green energy.

It was supposed to be European like. In the year 2000 the Minister of the Economy has lighted for the investors a green light – an order putting on electricity generating boards a duty of buying up the green energy (estimated to be 2, 5 percentage of the all energy). The National Environment Protection Fund has encouraged to the construction of wind power stations by introducing attractive credits. State - Eco-the Fund was to spend tens millions on grant-in-aids.

In January this year, a wind power station in Cisowo nearby Darłowo strted working with full strengths. The Energy-Eco firm has built there the Europe’s greatest windmills, able to power a 30-thousands town. Such a investment cost 90 million zlotys (the states’ grant-in-aid -about 30 million zlotys).

When it came to the green power sale, the electricity generating boards laughed out the businessmen. "The majority refused to buy the produced power” -says Wiśniewski- “ We have hardly managed to sign a contract with only one, of the receivers".

July 1 st Polish Electric Power Industry Networks - the state’s company dealing with the energy sale, have forced to the "windmills" a new account regulation for energy supply. Now, the power stations are bound to plan 48 hours in advance the amount of the energy produced. Either they will produce too much or not enough - they will take the financial penalty.

‘The windmillers’ already intervened at the URE President. The above was simply helpless. The turbines are still spinning, however completely for free. "I deliver the energy to the network, but I am not in the position to account with the electricity generating board. So what am I to do!? I have passed the case to the court- upsets Wojciech Romaniszyn - " I am at the edge of bankruptcy".

What is the response of Eko Fund, which has devoted tax- payers’2 million zlotys for the wind power stations construction grant-in-aids? "We gradually feeling more skeptical and irritated. After all we have not spent 35 millions of the grant-in-aid for this, to erect worthless statues!!!- say Eko Fund’s Mariusz Popiołek –“We expect realistic results. Either URE, or the Minister of the Economy have to reconcile both, farm’s and electricity generating boards’ interest.

"Windmills under powering (PDF)"