Tongeren-Riemst (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Ventori resubmits plans for 14 wind turbines in Tongeren-Borgloon and Riemst, powering 64,000 homes. 4 near Elst and Sluizen lowered below 200m; alderman Steve Hoste highlights debate.
As VRT News reported, the Ventori wind farm project in Tongeren-Borgloon and Riemst, in the province of Limburg, Belgium, has been submitted again after major changes to the original plan.
The proposal now includes 14 wind turbines along the E313 motorway. 8 turbines are planned in Riemst and 6 in Tongeren-Borgloon. Ventori says the farm can supply green electricity to about 64,000 households.
What changes did Ventori make to the Tongeren-Riemst wind farm plan?
The updated application takes these rules and earlier objections into account. The new file includes studies on noise, visual impact, and environmental responsibility. Ventori says the project has been redesigned to respect the required distance and to answer the remarks from government agencies.
Steve Hoste, alderman for Social Affairs and the Environment in Tongeren-Borgloon and member of Tongeren-Borgloon.nu, says both sides in the debate have clear rights.
“It is Ventori’s right to try again; they have invested a lot of time in this project,”
he explained.
“But residents also have the right to defend their view and biodiversity, and that is very understandable.”
“Unlike the previous meetings, which were held digitally, these will be held in person. The municipality will organise them, and the project initiators will present the changes themselves,”
Hoste explains.
To inform citizens, new information evenings have been planned. The 1st will take place on September 23, 2025, at the Gallo-Roman Museum in Tongeren-Borgloon. A 2nd session will follow on September 30, 2025, at the Paenhuys Community Centre in Riemst.
The formal public consultation is open from September 12, 2025, until October 11, 2025.
“The municipal executive will first review the contents of the new application and then discuss it,”
Hoste said.
“Residents will still have time to submit objections. Only afterwards will the executive make a final decision.”
Wind energy has been a subject of public debate in Flanders for more than 10 years. In 2021, the Flemish government introduced stricter rules for the construction of wind turbines. One of the key changes was the requirement that turbines must stand at least 750 meters away from residential areas.
Limburg, where Tongeren-Borgloon and Riemst are located, has seen several large wind projects in recent years, but many faced legal disputes and strong opposition from residents. At the same time, Flanders set ambitious climate targets and aims to expand onshore wind capacity by 2030.
The Ventori project was first submitted in 2023. The first permit request faced strong resistance. More than 2,000 residents filed objections, and the cities gave negative advice. Concerns focused on noise, the effect on the landscape, and the impact on the environment. The process also changed after the Flemish government introduced a new rule.
