Too great an enviromental impact in areas of special interest

Proposed project for four wind farms on the island rejected

Milà. The island´s only wind farm at present

A total of 28 wind generators, located at Es Milocar, Son Ermità, Es Bruc and Ses Communes, would have provided enough electricity for 80,000 people

C.M.W..Maó

Aproject to build four wind farms in Menorca which was put forward by a company from Inca, Generadora Eòlica Illes Balears SA, has been rejected on the grounds that it would have too great an impact on the environment. The ambitious plan to create energy from alternative sources envisaged farms at Es Milocar, Son Ermità, Ses Comunes and Es Bruc but has met with oppostion from various authorities who wish the areas to retain their natural appearance.

The company´s plan would have involved the erection of 28 wind generators (up to 121 metres in height) and the construction of an electricity substation which, in total, would have been capable of producing enough electricity to meet the demands of nearly 80,000 people.

Es Milocar

Rejected by the Balearic Commission for the Environment, this project proposed erecting generators on hilltops in the area, on woodland which was destroyed in a fire at the beginning of August. Seven windmills, 121 metres high, would have been placed at intervals of 260 metres and would have had a potential of 14 megawatts, five times greater than the output of the Son Salomó solar farm. A total of 23,000 square metres of land would have been required for the project - 1,000 sq.m. for the concrete base for each generator, 5,250 for each assembly platform and 17,000 for the new roads which would have been needed.

Council rejections

The proposed projects at Es Bruc and Ses Comunes were rejected by the Councils of Ferreries and Es Mercadal, as well as by the Xarxa Natura 2000 committee, as they are areas of special interest and as such are protected by European legislation.

The Balearic Commission for the Environment also issued an unfavourable report, drawing attention to the negative impact the projects would have on protected and indigenous species of flora and fauna. It also referred to the danger of birds being killed through collision with the windmills´ sails which have a diameter of 82 metres; 10 breeds of birds of high ecological value are present in the area. Similar wind farms have noted the death of up to 12 birds per windmill per year. The report also points out that the farms would be located in areas subject to erosion and fires.