Narrow vote kills Burgschleinitz-Kühnring wind farm after fierce local opposition
A proposed wind farm in Burgschleinitz-Kühnring has been rejected after a public vote on Sunday. The decision, final and binding, saw 423 residents oppose the project while 410 supported it—a narrow margin of just 13 votes. Mayor Andreas Boigenfürst confirmed the project is now definitively abandoned.
The referendum, held on March 15, 2026, drew nearly three-quarters of eligible voters. Turnout was especially high in Zogelsdorf, where almost 90% cast their ballots. There, opposition was overwhelming: only 16 residents backed the wind farm, while 81 rejected it.
Mayor Boigenfürst admitted he had not expected the result. He acknowledged the strong resistance in Zogelsdorf, which played a key role in the outcome. The decision follows a pattern in the Waldviertel region, where similar projects have been scrapped since 2020. These include Windpark Sigmundsherberg, withdrawn on January 23, 2020, and Windpark Meiseldorf, abandoned on February 4, 2020. Verbund, Austria's largest energy company, responded with disappointment. A spokesperson called the rejection a missed opportunity for renewable energy in the area.
The referendum result means the planned Windpark W109 will not proceed. With the outcome legally binding, no further applications for the project will be submitted. The decision also reflects broader challenges for wind energy developments in the region.
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