Polish towns celebrate wind power through art
9 July, 2025
Two municipalities in Eastern Wielkopolska, Kleczew and Konin, have unveiled new murals celebrating their pride in wind energy. Painted by Silesian artist Karol Kobryń, the murals blend modern wind turbines with regional folk art styles to emphasise the growing shift towards a renewable future that is solidly rooted in Polish tradition.
Kleczew, once a coal mining town, has undergone a dramatic transformation in recent years. After the closure of its mine, the town faced the challenge of redefining itself. Revitalising its barren lunar landscape with new wind and solar farms boosted municipal revenue and cleaned up the air. The impact of wind power has been so positive that the community celebrated the mural during its annual Kleczew Festival on midsummer weekend.
At the festival, Mayor of Kleczew Mariusz Musiałowski said, “The whole of Eastern Greater Poland, and especially the municipality of Kleczew where the mine operated until recently, is undergoing the energy transition and this mural is intended to be a sign of this change. It is meant to show that the new is arriving, while at the same time we are not forgetting what has been: our heritage, our culture, our history.”
Another former coal hub, Konin is now known for its successful energy transition. Eastern Greater Poland will be the first region in Poland to phase out coal in 2026 due to the support of the EU Just Transition fund.
The next major step in Poland’s energy transition will be the approval of the long-awaited Wind Act by Parliament which would unblock 84% of stalled onshore wind projects and bring significant economic growth for the country. Just last month, renewables in Poland provided more electricity than coal for the first time. It’s a clear signal that people desire renewable energy and are pursuing it locally in spite of national inaction. In the face of challenges such as depopulation and stagnant budgets, Polish municipalities see the energy transition as an opportunity to provide a better quality of life for their communities one wind turbine at a time.
