- Three municipalities, among others, claim their presence in protected natural spaces, their possible environmental impact and their disagreement with urban planning. The wind power plant which the Norwegian multinational intends to build provides five large windmills in the foothills of Sañoa and Etumeta.
The wind power plant project that Statkraft intends to build in Gipuzkoa between Azpeitia, Zestoa and Errezil has been the subject of a joint appeal by the three municipalities before the Basque Government, on the same day that the deadline for the completion of this procedure was over.
They have argued for this. Because each municipality is affected differently, but the conclusion is that "not all the necessary requirements for the project to be viable are met". This was expressed by press release by the mayors of Azpeitia, Zestoa and Errezil, respectively, Nagore Alkorta, Mikel Arrangi and Koldo Arzallus.
"Not all the necessary requirements for the project to be viable are met," said the mayors of Azpeitia, Zestoa and Errezil in a press release.
The representatives of the three municipalities recall that the Sectoral Territorial Plan states that only wind infrastructure can be built in "areas not affected by municipal planning".
In the case of Zestoa the vial and the plant intended to be opened for the construction of the Statkraft plant are located in a protected area and are incompatible with the municipal planning of urban planning. They say that changes should also be made to Errezil's planning. In Azpeitia it has been based on a technical report of urban compatibility that can condition the ecological corridor and the areas of landscape interest, although it does not affect the general plan of the municipality.
Furthermore, the environment on which the wind power plant is to be built is located between the Pagoeta Natural Park, Izarraitz and the Sierra de Hernia-Gazume, within the Natura 2000 network, and better consideration should be given to how it can affect both biodiversity and fauna, as stated in the resource.
The eco-social transition does, but how?
The three municipalities have ratified in the same note the "commitment to renewable energy indispensable for the eco-social transition" and have urged the Basque Government to lead this process "publicly".
"The transition to this scale requires opening up public debate and reaching broad consensus, which must necessarily be done through public leadership"
Referring to the Energy Transition Act that was passed in the Basque Parliament in the last legislature, they consider it necessary to design measures for the decarbonisation process and against climate change, but "the transition to this scale requires opening public debate and reaching broad consensus, which must necessarily be done through public leadership," they say.
205 m wind turbines
The Statkraft project has generated a great stir since its public presentation a year and a half ago, as well as the opposition and mobilization of many citizens.
The project, called Piaspe, includes five large turbines of 205 meters high on the slopes of Sañoa, Arauntza and Etumeta, as well as a high-voltage evacuation line and a vial that will lead to the central by Zestoa.
The draft has received allegations against many institutions, associations and individuals. The Sañu Bizirik platform, for example, has presented 2,000 resources at the Azpeitia City Hall.
This platform, just about to end the deadline for the submission of resources a few days ago, has asked municipal representatives to act with "responsibility" and defend the "natural heritage and the well-being of the citizens" of the municipalities.