Projects for the construction of high-voltage power lines designated as interstate or cross-border undergo federal sectoral planning. In this process, the Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) examines whether public or private interests preclude the realization of the project within a route corridor.
In the federal sectoral planning, you have three opportunities to participate formally:
- The first important opportunity is the public application conference. This is conducted by the Federal Network Agency after it has received the application for federal sector planning. The application is previously drawn up by the project promoters. At the conference, the Federal Network Agency gathers information on regional conditions. Anyone who also has alternatives to the proposed corridors can introduce them at the application conference. The Federal Network Agency also accepts comments on environmental and spatial compatibility. From this, it creates a "homework booklet" for the project promoters, the so-called assessment framework.
- The next opportunity for participation is public and authority participation. It takes place after the project promoter has completed its investigations. The Federal Network Agency publishes information on the public display on its
- Website
- and the local daily newspapers.
- You can submit statements as a private individual, associations, or as an agency or authority with public responsibilities. Agencies with public responsibilities include municipal specialized authorities, for example.
- After the Federal Network Agency has received and reviewed all statements, it organizes a discussion hearing. This is the 3rd and final opportunity to participate in the federal sector planning. In this hearing, it discusses the statements submitted on time with the project developer, the bodies representing public interests, and those who submitted them. In contrast to the application conference, private individuals can only participate in this hearing if they have submitted a statement.
