Wind Energy Parks are beneficial only when outside the European ecological network Natura 2000

The environmentalists pointed out that the Wind Electric Power is key in achieving the European Union’s goals - a share of 20% in renewable energy of the overall energy consumption and to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions with at least 20%.

At the same time there are evidences, that an inappropriate positioning of the Wind Energy Systems has significant negative impact on nature. And the prevention of biodiversity loss is another key EU priority, announced the coalition.

Unfortunately the existing practice and usage of the Wind Energy Projects in Bulgaria is disturbing. In November 2008 the European Commission started punitive procedure against our country for improper preservation of the area “Kaliakra” protected by Natura 2000, where one of the main issues is the construction of Wind Generators.

Preparation of a Strategic Ecological Evaluation of the National program for extraction of electric power from renewable energy sources 2005-2013 is required by the decision of the Minister of Environment and Water since year 2004. Such evaluation is not worked out and the whole sector is getting developed irrepressibly, without having guidelines for preservation of the environment and the biodiversity. In many cases permissions for construction of Wind Generators are granted even without Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

Based on the European Directive on environmental liability every investor will be obligated to “repair” the ecological damages for the upcoming 30 years. This tends to even bigger uncertainty among the wind-energy investors and could mean huge incidental amounts, at times exceeding repeatedly the investment.

Coalition “For the Nature” insists on the obtrusion of a moratorium on permissions’ granting for Wind Generators in the protected areas of Natura 2000, until there is a Strategic Ecological Evaluation prepared of the National program for Development of the renewable energy sources. The Coalition is ready to participate in the development of this evaluation, which will be beneficial for the society as well as for the business. At the same time the coalition “For the Nature” will be uncompromising to inform Bulgarian and international institutions for all the projects, which are contradicting to the EU environmental norms and politics.

Translation from Bulgarian: Ventsislava Mileva