At an extraordinary session on 23 September 2025, the Valga Municipal Council discussed the next steps of the wind farm special planning and strategic environmental assessment. After a heated debate, the council decided to proceed with the special planning procedure by 12 votes to 11. The majority of councillors consider that the completion of the specific plan is an indispensable prerequisite for a later, considered and well-considered decision on whether or not to proceed with the wind farm.
The preparation of the specific plan and the strategic environmental assessment were initiated by a unanimous decision of the City Council on 25 October 2023. Since the moment of initiation, the preparation of the plan, the impact assessment and the necessary studies have been intensively carried out. Dozens of meetings with the community have been held, and in-depth information has been shared on both the planning and the potential impacts. The municipality has kept councillors and committees regularly informed throughout the process.
Mayor of Valga municipality Monika Rogenbaum welcomed the council's decision. According to him, the experience of other municipalities also confirms that the process must be completed in order to find out whether and to what extent it is possible to establish a wind farm in Valga municipality. „This decision shows that the council is ready to follow transparency, community involvement and the procedures required by law. This will ensure that all the impacts are thoroughly assessed and the public's opinion is heard, and that the council takes its decision on whether or not to adopt the special plan at the right stage of the procedure,” the mayor stressed.
Also the council president Lauri Drubinš called the decision responsible in every way. „The legislator has established clear rules for the special planning procedure and following them will help to avoid subsequent litigation. Of course, the council has the final say, but the decision must be taken only after all the circumstances have been considered,” explained the council president.
Vice-Chairman of Valga Municipal Council Lilia Müller said that the EPP does not support wind energy. “The development of wind farms is contrary to the positions of our party and our partners have been aware of this. At the same time, it has to be said that local authorities have been put in a very difficult situation with these plans, where choices have to be made among bad choices,” Lilia Müller explained.
Project Manager Sunly Wind OÜ representing the developer Sander Lõuk acknowledged that the council's decision gives certainty to all parties. „This will allow the community and the municipality to work together to find solutions that will benefit local residents - whether it's investment in the municipality's development, cheaper electricity or different forms of cooperation,” said Lõuk.
With the decision to proceed with the specific planning procedure, the process is now moving to the public consultation phase, where all interested parties will again have the opportunity to examine the solutions and express their views.
For more information on the Valga municipality wind farm special plan, please see. from the website of the municipality