Not Everybody Loves Offshore Wind Power in Spain

The construction of  31 offshore wind farms, to be ready by the year 2012, is not being totally accepted by Spaniards.

People from Cadiz, Galicia and Tarragona, Spain, are not very comfortable with the project. The objection: offshore wind farms may spoil the view.

Certainly big wind turbines make the landscape uglier, not only in the mountains but also in the sea, at least if they are not well planned.

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That is precisely the issue, the Spanish Government is not paying enough attention to the landscape. While most wind farms in the world are located as far off the shore as possible so they can not easily be seen, the Spanish government is planning to put the turbines between 8 and 20 kilometres from the shore. It is really too close, for even though they cannot be seen by a person standing on the beach, they are perfectly visible from buildings and high points.

Another complaint by the locals is the problem that the setting of the turbines can bring to the fauna, especially to birds and fish. The tuna collectors are afraid their business can be affected by the exodus of the fish.That is another thing avoidable if things are done properly, the ecologist says.

In Cabo Trafalgar political activity against the offshore wind farms is growing, and you can see the city wallpapered with the slogan: “Save the Trafalgar sea”.

Again, the problem is not the offshore wind farms themselves, which will produce 2800 megawatts ( the same as three nuclear plants). The problem is the government’s bad planning that is turning a very good thing into an issue of conflict.

Via | Erenovable

Photo Credit: El País.

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