Inquiry Regarding Plans for the Construction of a Wind Farm on Saaremaa (No. 680)
Session: 15th Estonian Parliament, 5th session, plenary session
Date: 2025-02-17 19:19
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 61
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 1h 31m
AI Summaries: 61/61 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The inquiry presented by the Chairman, Jaak Valge, and Leo Kunnas regarding the intentions for an offshore wind farm on Saaremaa’s western coast raises questions about transparency, engagement, and planning within these strict requirements. Concerns arise regarding the substantive impact on nature, marine life, and local residents and the economy. The inquiry highlights a comparison with the size, heights, and distances of large-scale offshore wind farms globally, and presents a critical assessment of the planning process and the involvement of interested parties, referencing UNCLOS and the necessity of environmental impact assessments and permit procedures.
The second part responds to questions posed to the Minister of Climate, Yoko Alender, and clarifies the frameworks for the preparatory process of the offshore wind farm: sea area planning, building and construction permits, environmental impact assessments, and considerations regarding visual and environmental impact, including limits near the coast and interactions of areas with other uses. The role of renewable energy in the context of price decreases and energy security is also emphasized, and it is explained how planned investments may impact energy policy and the economy, both in Estonia and from the perspective of exports.
Decisions Made 1
There are no formal decisions within the scope of this agenda item. The inquiry procedure took place in the form of a discussion: the inquirers posed concerned questions, and the minister provided answers and explanations regarding current procedures and plans. The discussion of viewpoints did not lead to a specific decision, but leaves further steps and a possible decision within the framework of cooperation between the Riigikogu and the government. Therefore, it is stated that decisions are lacking, and coordinated procedures and discussions will continue for the next steps.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Jaak Valge, a member of the Riigikogu, who presented the perspective of the questioners and asked key questions, and also provided additional context and figures compared to other examples concerning offshore wind farms. He positions himself in the right-wing, conservative/nationalist corner, emphasizing the protection of Estonia’s nature and the interests of its people, and the need for transparent and inclusive planning.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi announced that we would move on to the fifth item on the agenda, that the inquiry submitted on January 13, 2025 by Jaak Valge and Leo Kunnas concerning the Saaremaa wind-power park's intention (No. 680) would be presented, and he requested a presentation by Jaak Valge.

Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge said that the Party of Estonian Nationalists and Conservatives protects Estonia's nature and national interests, and that the plan for the offshore wind farm on Saaremaa's western coast must be reviewed in a participatory way, because it could be the world's largest offshore wind farm and could threaten the environment, the economy, and the sustainability of local ways of life.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman, Toomas Kivimägi, thanks everyone.

Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge says that the minister does this, more or less, within the framework of cooperation with the legislative and executive powers.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
She thanks everyone and announces that the esteemed Minister of Climate Yoko Alender is answering your questions now.
Kliimaminister Yoko Alender
AI Summary
Climate Minister Yoko Alender confirms that the offshore wind farm plan is transparent and inclusive. It was established on May 12, 2022, and before applying for a building permit an environmental impact assessment must be carried out and the maximum number of turbines and the distances must be determined. Using Saaremaa as an example, different uses and visual impact are taken into account, and the development of renewable energy will help lower electricity prices, being much more economical than fossil energy.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanked and said that there is a whole range of questions, and invited Leo Kunnas to speak.

Leo Kunnas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Leo Kunnas asks how subsidized energy production and CO2-quota systems fit together with such a large rise in defense spending (about 4–4.5% of GDP) and with President Trump's demands to increase European defense spending.
Kliimaminister Yoko Alender
AI Summary
Climate Minister Yoko Alender stressed that in the current conditions security and energy independence are the top priorities, and dependence on external connections or on very highly subsidized fossil energy prices must be avoided, therefore the government is discussing a diversified energy-production package, in which oil shale ensures supply security and helps lower prices during peak loads, and lowering electricity prices is important in the overall competitiveness debate so that the economy can gain momentum and firmly withstand defense expenditures.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman, Toomas Kivimägi, asks Mart Maastiku to come onto the stage.

Mart Maastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Mart Maastik asked the minister a pointed question about how the price of electricity could become cheap if an offshore wind farm that is five times more expensive is built and billions of euros of infrastructure are needed, which, according to initial calculations, would cost 2.6 billion euros, and he briefly asked for an explanation of why offshore wind energy should be cheaper than onshore wind.
Kliimaminister Yoko Alender
AI Summary
Offshore wind farms are more powerful and more efficient, and the package based on developers' analyses is the most optimal and brings the greatest return to society—if we invest one euro, we get back 3.4 euros due to the drop in electricity prices.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi invites Kalle Grünthali onto the stage.

Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kalle Grünthal asks the minister why you are violating the Atmosphere Air Protection Act § 27, which prohibits the emission of pollutants higher than 250 meters above ground level, by citing four kinds of turbine emissions: toxic plastics from blade tips, the use of sulfur hexafluoride in braking and blade mechanisms, and infrasonic emissions and ice throw.
Kliimaminister Yoko Alender
AI Summary
Climate Minister Yoko Alender said that although ideological resistance to clean energy is understandable, it remains the cheapest way to produce electricity and helps to lower prices, and the environmental impact of every project is assessed and the environmental requirements are met, just as is done with oil shale.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Jaak Valget is invited to perform.

Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge criticizes the government's plan to organize small tenders for the construction of offshore and onshore wind farms, and notes that over 20 years subsidies could amount to about 2.6 billion euros, while polls show that the majority of people do not support the plan, which indicates a lack of involvement, especially in Saaremaa.
Kliimaminister Yoko Alender
AI Summary
Climate Minister Yoko Alender said that the EMOR study highlights the importance of wind and nuclear energy in Estonia's energy sector, and over the next 20 years the maximum cost of supporting renewable energy would be 2.85 billion euros, with a social benefit of 9.6 billion (1 euro in, 3.4 out), and she stressed the need for clarification on the topic of lowering electricity prices, and that the draft bill has not yet reached the Riigikogu, and everyone has the opportunity to contribute through communication.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi asks Anti Poolametsa to speak.

Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets points out that there are many unknowns regarding offshore wind farms, and with large turbines oil could leak into the sea if they fall, and he asks whether this has been thought through and how large a quantity of oil is pumped into these machines.
Kliimaminister Yoko Alender
AI Summary
Climate Minister Yoko Alender confirmed that in Estonia every energy-producing project is assessed for environmental and health impacts, and only those solutions that meet these requirements will be built.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
This is simply a request to invite Aivar Kokk to perform.

Aivar Kokk
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Aivar Kokk accuses the current government of lying and claims that the cheapest electricity comes from oil shale (production price about 50 euros per MWh, price including CO2 costs about 130 euros per MWh), and the state earns about 50 million euros from this per month, while other energy-related sources pay to the state.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The deputy chairman Toomas Kivimägi briefly expressed his thanks with the word "Thank you!"

Aivar Kokk
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Aivar Kokk claims that no cables are needed at all in oil shale production, recommends using wood and pellets, and asks why this hasn't been discussed even once.
Kliimaminister Yoko Alender
AI Summary
Climate Minister Yoko Alender said that there was a lot of misinformation in this question, she bases her statements on Eesti Energia's assurances and explains that the electricity price starts at 180 euros per megawatt-hour, that the price would be double only for electricity produced from oil shale, the Auvere power plant has incurred a loss of about 600 million euros, and every year the oil shale reserve is subsidized to the extent of at least 50 million euros — and that is not true.

Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats states that energy policy has for a long time been guided by a green worldview, and there is no rational economic approach, the costs of which will be paid by future generations, emphasizing that there is no opposition to green energy, but an appropriate amount is OK if it does not burden the grid or require reinforcement, and the wind farms on Saaremaa are not for them, and it should be clearly stated how many grids will be needed going forward.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
This is merely a request to invite Lauri Laats to perform.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The speech is short and expresses only gratitude.

Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats emphasizes that money is needed to strengthen the network, and this is an important point.
Kliimaminister Yoko Alender
AI Summary
Climate Minister Yoko Alender said that Estonia must ensure stable, affordable and clean energy and look together through the energy trilemma – price, availability and sustainability – and although wind turbines and solar panels may not please everyone, developing them will help bring prices down.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi asks Evelin Poolametsa to take the floor.

Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Evelin Poolamets asks how the funding of dismantling costs for wind turbines with a 20–30 year lifespan is regulated, and who bears these costs if the company goes bankrupt, given that the total dismantling cost for a 300-meter turbine could reach up to one million euros.
Kliimaminister Yoko Alender
AI Summary
Nowadays the service life of wind turbines is considered to be about 35–40 years, the owner is responsible for dismantling them, and about 90% of the turbine materials are recyclable.

Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arvo Aller claimed that wind energy is not cheap, and although people say that for every euro invested three euros come back, he asked how this return to the Estonian people is manifested and whether the money would not end up in the pockets of ideological organizations and political parties.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi asks that Arvo Aller take the floor.
Kliimaminister Yoko Alender
AI Summary
Climate Minister Yoko Alender said that wind energy is currently the second cheapest and solar energy the cheapest, and the money coming back through the renewable energy charge is reflected as a lower electricity price, and everyone decides what to do with it, which helps to increase the competitiveness of the Estonian economy.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi asks Helir-Valdor Seeder to speak.

Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder expresses concern that important energy policy decisions are made only within a narrow circle of the government, asks which of the ministers is lying, and emphasizes that the climate law and the development plan for the energy economy have not been discussed in Parliament, and that the Riigikogu's role must be involved in this.
Kliimaminister Yoko Alender
AI Summary
The government has discussed the wind-energy support mechanism at its 20th cabinet meeting; no formal decision has been made, and on Thursday it intends to send to the Riigikogu for a decision a draft bill concerning the offshore wind site for a third time. Whether the introduction of support mechanisms will be decided by the Riigikogu remains to be seen. At the same time, the government will decide on the location of the offshore wind site, and regarding the sufficiency of the discussions only Jürgen Ligi and Kristen Michal themselves can respond.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi thanked the minister, announced that the questions were over, opened negotiations, and said that Kalle Grünthal had asked for extra time – eight minutes.

Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kalle Grünthal accuses the government that the elevated structures of wind turbines are sources of pollution that threaten people's health (infrasound, ice throw, and toxic emissions), and demands compliance with the Air Protection Act and clear answers based on data from the WHO and the Estonian Health Board.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi emphasizes that the inquirers' representative has the customary right to speak first and asks Jaak Valge to exercise this right.

Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge emphasizes that before the impact of giant tuugenites is clarified, Estonia must not be a laboratory nor should Estonians be test subjects, calls for a referendum to involve the people, criticizes the functioning of democracy and energy policy forecasts, and asks whether Estonia plans to export electricity to Germany via Latvia and how the agreements and prices would be guaranteed for that.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman, Toomas Kivimägi, asked to add three minutes.

Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge emphasizes that in wind energy planning, it is necessary to protect people's health and living environment by locating wind farms at least 50 kilometers from the coast (recommending to consult the Saare Rannarahva Selts website and based on analyses and legal acts), and asks why the example of other countries is not followed, because otherwise the goal of the green transition could become an added cost that reduces quality of life.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
This was a brief expression of gratitude and a plea to Anti Poolamets.

Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets claims that the green transition is an artificial and economically damaging process, during which shoddy wind-turbine technology is promoted and for which taxpayers pay, and he calls for its cessation in order to restore a competitive economy and protect oil shale energy.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman, Toomas Kivimägi, would like the speech to last three more minutes.

Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets claims that the government is putting billions into the business of foreign companies, and all the money will ultimately flow out, because electricity prices and corporate bankruptcies cannot be foreseen, and the environment and the heritage landscape are neglected, and therefore the construction of wind farms should be halted in order to reduce the damage to society and the economy.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi thanks, gives Lauri Laats the floor, and Lauri Laats requests extra time, after which the length of the speech is set to eight minutes.

Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats states that the green policy and ENMAK's sustainable approach do not guarantee a decrease in the end-user electricity price and burden taxpayers and the economy, therefore there is a need for a pragmatic solution that is acceptable to consumers and to businesses.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanks, Aivar Kokk asks for extra time and the time is eight minutes.

Aivar Kokk
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Aivar Kokk emphasizes that the electricity price has risen due to faulty decisions, calls for establishing cheap energy coordinated with locals (biomass–pellet, biogas or LNG Paldiski) and for limiting the construction of wind turbines and solar parks, because they are not economically viable without local consent, and calls the CO2 quota a burden on consumers, for which Isamaa promises to take responsibility.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi thanked and gave Evelin Poolamets the floor.

Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Evelin Poolamets said that Sustainable Investments OÜ threatens the Vinni municipality with damages in connection with the ban on initiating detailed planning, and asked where the municipality could obtain funds to cover these damages, referring to the absurdity of the situation and the need to find a solution.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanks, asks for the floor for Helir-Valdor Seeder, and notes that Seeder is asking for extra time and there are eight minutes remaining.

Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder stressed that Estonia's energy system can be secured only through a holistic and nationally coordinated solution that takes into account the final price to the consumer, energy security, and the overall balance of system costs (wind, solar, gas, nuclear, storage and the investments associated with them), and he criticized the current inadequate holistic solution and uncoordinated planning, which could lead to the emergence of large obligations and conflicts and the impact of cross-border decisions on local governments.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The speeches by Riigikogu members have been delivered, and now it's time to summarize everything that climate minister Yoko Alender has asked for.
Kliimaminister Yoko Alender
AI Summary
The climate minister Yoko Alender said that Estonia's energy plan will combine foreign and domestic productions, dispatchable capacities, and oil shale reserves with nuclear, renewable energy and storage capacities, in order to keep energy prices low, ensure reliable and clean energy, and call on the Riigikogu to make sensible and affordable decisions.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi thanks all participants and announces that the consideration of this agenda item has ended.