observers struggle to imagine the year ending without a wind farm bill making progress in the Sejm. Paulina Hennig-Kloska, the climate and environment minister and deputy chair of the Poland 2050 group, spoke plainly in a recent interview. ‘It’s hard to imagine ending the year without a bill in the Sejm. No amount of quixotic shouting on the opposition benches will change this,’ she stated. Her track record on wind energy policy stretches back to earlier moves that sparked controversy before she led the Climate Ministry.
Paulina Hennig-Kloska was sworn in together with the entire Tusk government on December 13, 2023. However, before she became head of climate and environment, she played a central role in a wind energy controversy. On November 28, a draft amendment to the law freezing energy prices, submitted by a coalition group of Polska 2050-TD and KO, proposed loosening some restrictions on wind farm construction in Poland. The draft would permit wind turbines to be placed as close as 300 meters from inhabited buildings. Hennig-Kloska subsequently acknowledged that she had included such a provision in the bill, a disclosure that fueled intense debate in Parliament and shadowed the government’s early days in office.
According to political observers, former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki described the wind energy proposal as the product of heavy lobbying and haste by the new government. The bill quickly became the focus of controversy, with several references to prosecutors and investigations over potential improper influence. The episode underscored deep divisions over how Poland should manage its wind resources and how quickly a new policy framework should be put in place.
The Hennig-Kloski windmills are back
Ministry officials now signal a renewed push: a new wind farm law could reach the Sejm by year end, and Hennig-Kloska has indicated that she does not plan to back down in the face of opposition from Law and Justice MPs. The government believes a clearer wind energy framework would support investment and job creation while aligning with climate and energy targets, though critics warn about lingering concerns over lobbying and the need for robust environmental safeguards.
In the same remarks, she reaffirmed her stance on the policy question. ‘It’s hard to imagine ending the year without this bill in the Sejm. No amount of quixotic shouting on the opposition benches will change this,’ she said in the interview. The comments highlight just how central wind energy policy has become to the coalition’s broader energy strategy and to voters watching how swiftly reform moves through parliament.
As the debate unfolds, analysts weigh the potential effects on Poland’s energy security, regional competitiveness, and the push toward cleaner power sources. The wind farm policy remains a focal point for discussions about governance, transparency, and the influence of lobbying in public decision making. Supporters argue that clear rules will attract investment and reduce emissions, while opponents stress the need for careful consideration of local impacts and long-term risks.