Despite threatening letters sent to local business owners and politicians connected to the plans, pile driving for the first wind turbines on the Mondenweg in Drenthe between 1e Exloërmond and Nieuw-Buinen has begun this week.
Translation by Traci White
RTV Drenthe reports that wind turbine manufacturer Nordex has initiated pile driving to hoist the first wind turbine in what will become De Drentse Monden and Oostermoer wind park.
Last week, Ben Timmermans, director of Avitec construction company in the Drenthe town of Nieuw-Buinen, withdrew his company’s involvement in the plans after receiving a letter threatening to harm his business and his family. A Large-Scale Investigation Team with 20 detectives and 70 officers is working on the ongoing wind park activism. The team is also investigating an incident in February when wind turbine activists spread asbestos near a train station in Delfzijl and left warning messages in the area.
Despite the intimidation attempt, construction plans on the wind turbine park are moving forward this week. The pile driving portion is expected to be completed this week, and the construction area is completely closed off to visitors due to safety concerns. In January, preparations for the construction of the first test wind turbine began in January, and testing is still ongoing. If the testing is successful, then 44 additional turbines will be built.
