Stop dismantling German windfarm to expand coalmine, say authorities

Activists say deconstruction of Keyenberg turbines undermines government's climate pledge

Governing authorities in Germany have urged one of the country's biggest energy companies to stop dismantling a wind park to make way for an open-pit mine, after activists said the move symbolised a rollback of the government's climate protection plans.

Consisting of eight turbines, the Keyenberg wind park in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia is located about half a mile from the edge of a 48 km^2 surface mine, named after the local village of Garzweiler.