The village of Kněžice in central Bohemia has become known as the first energy-independent village in the Czech Republic, thanks to its biogas plant and central heating system powered by organic waste. The facility generates heat and electricity for 160 buildings using waste from restaurants, households, and fallen leaves. However, the mayor, Milan Kazda, now fears the plant may have to reduce operations after losing state subsidies. The government plans to shift support from biogas to cleaner biomethane production, which would require a significant investment of around 20 million crowns—something the village cannot afford. The current system efficiently uses local resources and serves as an alternative to sewage treatment plants, but the proposed change could make the project economically unsustainable.
Bias read (Center): The article presents both the challenges faced by the village due to changing government policies and the potential benefits of shifting to biomethane. It includes perspectives from the mayor and an industry representative, offering balanced views without overtly favoring one side. There is no clear






