Utrecht PAS correspondents are given priority at the Nitrogen Bank

PAS detectors in the District of Utrecht should be given priority when issuing the nitrogen space from the Utrecht Nitrogen Deposition Bank. The provincial government will soon submit this proposal to the provincial council.

Utrecht has had its own nitrogen bank since the summer of 2023. To help PAS correspondents legalize their company, space in the bank should be reserved for them as a priority. The caveat is that the freed up space always benefits restoring nature first.

If this proves unnecessary, the space, with the statutory 30 percent natural reduction, will initially go to PAS detectors. The space can also be used for, among other things, energy conversion and housing construction.

A retired rancher can also reserve nitrogen space for another farmer. The moment at which this space can be allocated and subsequently used depends on the state of nature in the area in question and must fit the operation of the area.

“Actually for the government”

MP Miriam Sterk: 'We collect nitrogen space in the sedimentation bank, which we can use to solve problems for both nature and farmers. Although it is actually up to the government to come up with a solution for PAS detectors, through this bank we have a tool that we can also help with as a province, if there is room.'

In addition, according to Sterk, the nitrogen bank helps facilitate the region-specific approach and allows greater scope for issuing legally sustainable permits.

The district council will decide in the state assembly on June 26 whether they approve the district government's proposal.