Continuation of the second reading of the bill (541 SE) amending the Planning Act and other laws (accelerating the adoption of renewable energy).

Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary sitting

Date: 2025-06-12 02:52

Total Speeches: 25

Membership: 15

Agenda Duration: 39m

AI Summaries: 25/25 Speeches (100.0%)

Analysis: Structured Analysis

Politicians Speaking Time

Politicians

Analysis

Summary

The Riigikogu continued the second reading of Bill 541, the Draft Act on Amendments to the Planning Act and Other Acts (Acceleration of the Deployment of Renewable Energy), initiated by the Government of the Republic. Jaak Aab, a member of the Economic Affairs Committee, provided an overview of the bill's proceedings following the interruption of the reading on May 7, 2025. The main change was the addition of provisions from the Electricity Market Act, which create a framework for competitive tenders for onshore wind energy. Although members of the Riigikogu and parliamentary factions did not submit proposals by the deadline for submitting amendments (May 14) after the second reading was interrupted, the committee received opinions and appeals from 16 interest groups, including several energy companies and professional associations. During the discussions, the Ministry of Climate clarified its positions, refuting claims of insufficient consultation on the amendments with market participants. Key points of contention included the payment of subsidies for electricity sold via a direct line (which the ministry does not support due to state aid rules), specific support for hybrid projects (which was deemed unnecessary), and the guaranteed sales revenue ceiling (which the ministry maintained at 45 euros/MWh, considering it sufficient). The Economic Affairs Committee submitted 10 amendments (primarily legal and technical clarifications), all of which were fully taken into account. During negotiations, the Isamaa and EKRE factions criticized the bill, deeming it non-technology-neutral, overly subsidized, and anti-community. Coalition representative Mario Kadastik defended the bill, explaining that the support measure is aimed at lowering the average electricity price and is necessary due to the lack of controllable generation capacity. The Isamaa and EKRE factions proposed interrupting the second reading, which was voted down (12 in favor, 45 against). The second reading of the bill was then concluded.

Decisions Made 2
Collective Decision

The proposal by the Isamaa faction and the Estonian Conservative People's Party faction to suspend the second reading of Draft Bill 541 was rejected (12 votes in favor, 45 against).

Collective Decision

The second reading of Draft Bill 541, initiated by the Government of the Republic, concerning the Act amending the Planning Act and other acts (Acceleration of the deployment of renewable energy), was concluded.

Most Active Speaker
Anti Poolamets
Anti Poolamets

Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioon

Anti Poolamets (EKRE) was an active opponent, criticizing the draft bill as "national masochism" and "neototalitarianism," arguing that it imposes intermittent power generation on communities and will result in environmental damage and the weakening of the economy. (Position: Right-wing)

Aseesimees Arvo Aller
02:52:06
AI Summary

We now move on to agenda item 13, where we will continue the second reading of Bill 541, the Act amending the Planning Act and other Acts (Acceleration of the Introduction of Renewable Energy), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The rapporteur is Jaak Aab, a member of the Economic Affairs Committee.

Jaak Aab
Jaak Aab
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmed
02:52:35
AI Summary

Jaak Aab provides a brief overview, stating that the Economic Affairs Committee discussed the draft bill's proposed amendments and views following the interruption of the second reading. The Committee decided to place the continuation of the second reading on the agenda of the Riigikogu plenary session on June 11, 2025, with the aim of concluding the second reading and proceeding to the third reading and final vote on June 18, 2025.

Jaak Aab
Jaak Aab
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmed
02:52:35
AI Summary

Jaak Aab provided an overview of the continuation of the second reading of the bill handled by the Economic Affairs Committee. This reading focused on amendments to the Electricity Market Act aimed at establishing a framework for onshore wind energy auctions. Following the suspension of the reading, the committee thoroughly debated the feedback received, particularly regarding the exclusion of electricity sold via direct lines from subsidies and the guaranteed sales revenue cap (which the ministry deems sufficient at 45 euros/MWh). Ten amendments, primarily technical in content, were considered, and a proposal was made to conclude the bill's second reading and send it to the final vote on June 18.

Aseesimees Arvo Aller
03:03:58
AI Summary

Vice-Chairman Arvo Aller thanks the audience, announces that there are no questions, opens the discussion, and invites Mart Maastik to the floor.

Mart Maastik
Mart Maastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmed
03:04:12
AI Summary

Maastik argued that accelerating the green transition and subsidizing renewable energy drives the electricity price uncomfortably high, because standing charges and taxes inflate the cost and render our economy uncompetitive. He subsequently called for an end to these subsidies, urging a focus instead on cheap and competitive energy, citing the example of Spain.

Mart Maastik
Mart Maastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmed
03:04:12
AI Summary

Mart Maastik sharply criticizes the government’s green transition and the "green frenzy," arguing that Estonia is essentially living in a parallel universe. He claims that uncompetitive and unmanageable energy production, such as onshore wind farms, is being subsidized despite clear warnings from employers and the opposition. He stresses that while the production cost of renewable energy might be low, the combination of high fixed fees and subsidies makes Estonia's electricity production and consumer prices among the most expensive in Europe, effectively pricing the country out of competition. He feels his warnings are not being heeded.

Aseesimees Arvo Aller
03:08:44
AI Summary

He is asking for three extra minutes.

Mart Maastik
Mart Maastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmed
03:08:48
AI Summary

Mart Maastik emphasizes that state treasury funding must come from the private sector, rather than through raising taxes and making unfunded promises, arguing that taxes and electricity production subsidies will only lead to a deepening economic recession and crisis. Consequently, the Isamaa party proposed suspending the second reading of the draft bill.

Aseesimees Arvo Aller
03:09:45
AI Summary

Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller offers his thanks and addresses Anti Poolamets with a request.

Anti Poolamets
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioon
03:10:00
AI Summary

Anti Poolamets claims that the draft laws accelerate and enforce projects that suppress community resistance, resulting in rising energy prices and the loss of industry and jobs. Furthermore, he accuses the Green Transition and liberals of importing totalitarianism and socialism, demanding the withdrawal of the wind energy projects.

Anti Poolamets
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioon
03:10:00
AI Summary

Anti Poolamets sharply criticizes the aggressive imposition of intermittent electricity (wind turbine) projects on communities, accusing the government of using administrative tricks and bribery tactics to suppress resistance. He emphasizes that this "green transition" is actually national masochism, which is driving Estonian companies and large industries (such as the Kunda factory) into bankruptcy due to the most expensive electricity in Europe, and demands the withdrawal of this neo-totalitarian and anti-common-sense project.

Aseesimees Arvo Aller
03:14:36
AI Summary

Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller requests two additional minutes.

Anti Poolamets
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioon
03:14:38
AI Summary

Anti Poolamets sharply criticizes the green transition and the construction of gigantic wind farms, labeling them as monsters the height of the Tallinn TV Tower. He claims these projects devastate scenic natural areas and leave behind massive amounts of unrecyclable junk imported from Red China, all while simultaneously weakening the Estonian economy and supporting the business interests of Comrade Xi. Consequently, he is submitting a motion to discontinue the process on behalf of the EKRE faction.

Anti Poolamets
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioon
03:14:38
AI Summary

Anti Poolamets, speaking on behalf of the EKRE faction, called for the halting of the green transition and the removal of subsidies, warning that millions of tons of unused materials and growing Chinese influence could damage the economy and the environment, and therefore it is time to roll the entire process back.

Aseesimees Arvo Aller
03:17:01
AI Summary

Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller thanks [the previous speaker] and invites Lauri Laats to take the floor.

Lauri Laats
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioon
03:17:12
AI Summary

Lauri Laats considers the draft energy law currently under discussion to be a massive "botch job" that is not technology-neutral but unreasonably favors wind energy, ignoring market volatility and negative prices, which will lead to the collapse of the system; he finds that the government's green energy strategy (ENMAK) is ideological and its goals, especially the 2030 targets, are physically impossible to meet, and the entire green transition is unsustainable, bringing losses to both producers and consumers.

Lauri Laats
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioon
03:17:12
AI Summary

This draft bill is a complete fiasco: it is not technology-neutral, it is aimed solely at wind energy, it does not allow for technology-neutral tenders or storage solutions, it creates significant volatility, and it threatens the interests of both consumers and producers. Furthermore, it is unrealistic and detrimental to plan to consume and produce such high volumes of green energy by 2030.

Aseesimees Arvo Aller
03:22:23
AI Summary

Just one question: would you like extra time?

Lauri Laats
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioon
03:22:25
AI Summary

Lauri Laats stated clearly that he cannot support the given bill under any circumstances.

Aseesimees Arvo Aller
03:22:29
AI Summary

This is a short thank you and a request for Mario Kadastik.

Mario Kadastik
Mario Kadastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmed
03:22:39
AI Summary

Mario Kadastik clarified the details of the draft support measure, emphasizing that the measure is structured to lower the average price of electricity, and its impact on the renewable energy fee is minimal (0.24 cents/kWh). He justified directing the support specifically toward wind energy because solar energy and storage are already viable under market conditions, whereas wind is the only realistic alternative for ensuring stable production over the next 10–15 years, while the establishment of controllable generation types (such as a nuclear power plant) takes time. Additionally, he noted that the planning changes included in the draft are beneficial for all planning processes, not just for accelerating the construction of wind turbines.

Mario Kadastik
Mario Kadastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmed
03:22:39
AI Summary

In summary, Mario Kadastik stated that the support is technology-neutral, but it will only be paid out to the wind energy sector, and this should lower the average electricity price, since solar energy and storage do not require state support. Furthermore, the planning changes are beneficial for everyone, and if nothing is done, electricity demand will increase, and supply will not be able to keep pace.

Aseesimees Arvo Aller
03:27:06
AI Summary

Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller concluded the debate, announced that all ten amendments proposed by the Economic Affairs Committee had been approved by the lead committee, and subsequently put to a vote the proposal by the Isamaa and EKRE factions to suspend the second reading of Draft Act 541.

Aseesimees Arvo Aller
03:27:06
AI Summary

Arvo Aller announced that the review of the ten amendments submitted by the Economic Affairs Committee would continue, and a vote would be held on the proposals to suspend the second reading of Draft Bill 541, which were submitted by the Isamaa and EKRE factions.

Aseesimees Arvo Aller
03:31:48
AI Summary

The proposal was not supported: 12 in favor, 45 against, 0 abstentions; the second reading was concluded.