The former US air base in Bitburg has been earmarked as a potential low-cost carrier airport for the best part of a year now, but plans could come apart at the seams as pressure from the left anchoring a move for a sustainable energy centre gathers momentum.

Developer Frank Lamparski, who claims to have already secured 30 million euros in funding for the airport project (estimated at a total cost of 380 million euros), has his hands tied until given the go-ahead by Rhineland-Palatinate's governing body, which, in turn has received a rival bid from environmentalists.

Green party members argue that the airport idea is 'unrealistic' due to the proximity in competition of Frankfurt-Hahn (only 90km away).

The Greens would prefer that the site be used for a solar farm, wind farm and or for cultivating bio-gas crops.