Garzweiler I is a large surface mine in the German state of North-Rhine Westphalia. It is operated by RWE and used for mining lignite. The mine is located west of Grevenbroich and exploitation is progressing towards Erkelenz. Mining was originally limited to the 66.0 km² area Garzweiler I located east of motorway A 44. Mining in the 48.0 km² Garzweiler II sector started in 2006 (see Immerath, Garzweiler I conflict) and it will take until around 2045 to fully exploit both sectors. The lignite is used for power generation at nearby power plants such as Neurath. For the Garzweiler I mine people from several municipalities (Reisdorf, Garzweiler, Priesterath, Stolzenberg, Elfgen, Belmen, Morken-Harff, Epprath, Omagen, Königshoven, Otzenrath, Spenrath, Holz) had to be moved. Resistance against relocation were particularly strong in Otzenratz were people protested with lighting chains. In 1995 a citizen survey advocated a suit of the community before the Constitutional Court of Münster, which was however rejected. In 2000, the resettlement of most residents began (about 80 percent) to the new location, which was completed by 2007. In 2008 a last resistance was organized by the BUND (Friends of the Earth Germany), which occupied its own orchard on the edge of the pit.