WARSAW (Reuters) -The Polish parliament approved legislation easing rules to build onshore wind farms, which the government says is a key step to boost renewable energy output and lower electricity prices.

The rules, passed in a vote late on Wednesday, cut the distance required between planned installations and residential locations, while keeping permitting more restrictive for projects close to protected natural areas.

The bill will also include a clause that freezes energy prices for households until the end of the year, and incentives for municipalities and homeowners in areas closest to the new wind farms.

"This is a step towards lower power prices for Poles and for the economy, an idea we all share. The more power we have from renewable sources, the lower electricity prices will be," Climate Minister Paulina Hennig-Kloska told Parliament sitting on Wednesday.

Boosting renewable power production has been one of the key election pledges of the current government after the previous administration blocked development of onshore wind for most of its eight years in power.

The law needs to be approved by the Senate, and signed by the president. Outgoing head of state Andrzej Duda and president-elect Karol Nawrocki have been skeptical about easing permitting requirements for wind farms.

Duda said on Wednesday the government was trying to force him to sign the wind farm bill by including the last-minute amendment to freeze power prices.Renewable output has been growing at the expense of coal-fired power which still dominates the mix. In 2024, nearly 30% of Polish electricity was generated from renewable sources. The country now has 11 gigawatt of installed wind capacity.

(Reporting by Marek Strzelecki; Editing by Stephen Coates)