Draft law amending the Planning Act and other laws (accelerating the adoption of renewable energy) (541 SE) – third reading
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary session
Date: 2025-06-18 21:24
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 12
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 15m
AI Summaries: 12/12 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The agenda item was the third reading of the bill initiated by the Government of the Republic concerning the amendment of the Planning Act and other acts (acceleration of the deployment of renewable energy). The debate focused on the bill's impact on planning procedures and the rights of local communities. Evelin Poolamets, representative of the Conservative People's Party of Estonia (EKRE), sharply criticized the bill, calling it a "developer-commissioned law" that threatens human health, the living environment, and cultural heritage, noting that it allows for the circumvention of detailed planning and substantive environmental impact assessments. Aleksandr Tšaplõgin, representing the Centre Party, also deemed the green agenda a fraud that forces consumers to subsidize wind farms, thereby removing their access to cheap energy, and stressed the competitiveness of oil shale. Mario Kadastik, representing the Reform Party, refuted claims regarding the low cost of oil shale, highlighting its high cost price when combined with CO2 fees. He explained that the law aims to reduce bureaucracy and optimize planning processes by assessing environmental impacts more accurately during the initial stage, thus accelerating the issuance of building permits. In the final vote, the bill was adopted as Act 541 with 46 votes in favor.
Decisions Made 1
The bill (541) initiated by the Government of the Republic regarding the amendment of the Planning Act and other acts was passed into law (46 in favor, 12 against).
Most Active Speaker
Evelin Poolamets, the representative of the Estonian Conservative People's Party faction, was the most active speaker in the debate, presenting thorough criticism against the draft bill and requesting additional time. Her position is right-wing.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The eighth item on today's agenda is the third reading of the Government-initiated Bill on Amendments to the Planning Act and Other Acts (Acceleration of the Deployment of Renewable Energy). Discussions will now be opened, and on behalf of the EKRE faction, Evelin Poolamets is invited to the Riigikogu podium.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Evelin Poolamets is criticizing the draft bill designed to accelerate the adoption of renewable energy, arguing that it allows authorities to bypass detailed zoning plans, environmental impact assessments, and the viewpoints of local communities. She claims the bill undermines trust between the state and its citizens, poses a threat to the living environment and property values, and is, in reality, a law favoring developers rather than a genuine green solution for ensuring energy security.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The speaker requests an extension and asks for three additional minutes.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Evelin Poolamets called for a vote against the draft legislation, arguing that it would accelerate the construction of wind farms, devalue environmental impact assessments, and threaten both nature and the human living environment. She claimed the bill is essentially commissioned legislation ordered by developers and jeopardizes the rights of the public, which is why a balanced, science-based energy policy is necessary.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Speaker thanks everyone and, on behalf of the Centre Party faction, invites colleague Aleksandr Tšaplõgin to the Riigikogu rostrum.
Aleksandr Tšaplõgin
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Aleksandr Tšaplõgin sharply criticizes the green agenda as a major scam that forces consumers to subsidize renewable energy producers backed by state guarantees, thereby eliminating access to cheap energy and causing economic impoverishment. He emphasizes that Estonia needs fair competition and inexpensive oil shale energy, which the government is planning to unreasonably abandon.
Aleksandr Tšaplõgin
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He claims that the green agenda is a massive scam: consumers are being forced to subsidize electricity production for wind farm owners, investments are backed by state guarantees, and profits are being generated, which reduces the availability of cheap energy and favors oil shale in competition. The Estonian Centre Party faction stated that they would not participate in this scheme.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman thanks the previous speaker and, on behalf of the Reform Party faction, requests that colleague Mario Kadastik be invited to the Riigikogu rostrum to speak.
Mario Kadastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Mario Kadastik dismisses arguments regarding the competitiveness of oil shale, stressing that its cost price, when factoring in CO2 charges, amounts to 170–200 euros per megawatt-hour, which makes it more costly than renewable energy. Additionally, the speaker voiced the Reform Party’s support for a draft law designed to speed up planning processes through the reduction of bureaucracy and the clarification of procedural steps, ultimately aiming to boost the economy’s competitiveness.
Mario Kadastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kadastik claimed that oil shale is neither cheap nor competitive—the production cost is around 100 €/MWh, and CO2 fees push the price up to 170–200 €/MWh. He also stated that the goal of the planning reform is to reduce bureaucracy and accelerate procedures so that the economy's competitiveness and development improve, and the Reform Party definitely supports this draft bill.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar announced that there were no further requests to speak, and the leading committee will conduct the final vote on Draft Act 541 and submit to the Riigikogu for the final vote the draft act on amendments to the Planning Act and other acts, initiated by the Government of the Republic, requesting that they take a position and vote.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Bill 541 was adopted as law: 46 members of the Riigikogu voted in favor, 12 against, and there were no abstentions.