July 14, 2014
Malta

Mepa told government wind energy projects would have “unacceptable impacts”

Monday, July 14, 2014 | www.timesofmalta.com

The planning authority informed the government months ago there would be no point in pursuing further studies for a wind farm at Is-Sikka l-Bajda in Mellieħa because of “unacceptable impacts”.

The Energy Ministry told Times of Malta recently that a decision on the wind farm would be taken once “technical, environmental and feasibility studies are concluded”.

A Mepa spokesman told The Sunday Times of Malta that studies conducted already showed that the wind farm would have multiple significant impacts on the environment that cannot be effectively mitigated.

“Although the EIA [Environment Impact Assessment] process related to the proposed wind farm at Is-Sikka l-Bajda is not formally exhausted… Mepa has communicated to the applicant there would be no point pursuing further long-drawn and expensive EIA procedures that will clearly not add value to the decision-making,” he said.

Wind studies at L-Aħrax Point began in November 2009 after an 80-metre wind mast was installed (picture).

The plan was to install 19 to 24 wind turbines at Is-Sikka l-Bajda, which could provide electricity for some 40,000 households, or about 10 per cent of what Enemalta produces annually.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/07/14/mepa-told-government-wind-energy-projects-would-have-unacceptable-impacts/