Environment Ministry Proposes EIA Act Amendment to Support Use of Green Energy

Bratislava, May 14 (TASR) - The Environment Ministry has submitted a draft amendment to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Act for interdepartmental review, with one of its main aims being to align the process with the Building Act, in particular regarding renewable energy projects. "The proposed law is expected to have a positive impact on the environment, especially on air quality, as it introduces mechanisms aimed at further supporting the use of renewable energy sources (RES) and strengthening the development of energy production from RES," the Environment Ministry stated in the report. In addition to supporting the building up of RES, the law also aims to align EIA processes with the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Act, to adjust the powers and roles of state authorities in permit procedures, and to ensure that tasks arising from the recovery plan are fulfilled. One important change is that, during the permit process, selected wind and solar energy projects will be considered as being in the public interest, not just private business initiatives. This should make approvals easier and may reduce the number of objections. The amendment introduces a new concept called 'unified permits', which combines environmental impact assessments and project approvals into one coordinated process. The Environmental Inspectorate will act as a special building authority for energy facilities using renewable sources excluding hydroelectric power plants. lin/df