The large companies that arrived in Gipuzkoa from abroad – at the moment Green Capital and Statkraft – are processing in Gipuzkoa, there and here, the authorisations for the construction of wind power plants. In fact, in Urretxu-Zumarraga, then in Soraluze-Elgoibar, later in Azkoitia, later in Zizurkil and according to the latest news, another in Azpeitia-Errezil-Zestoa and another in Eskoriatza-Aramaio. How many more?

The groups or platforms are being created at the same pace with the objective of protecting the natural, archaeological, geological, historical, landscape and spiritual heritage of their mountains, as well as the defense of the inhabitants of the surrounding villages and villages, their place of residence, their health and their economic activity, especially that related to agricultural activity. And we've started collaborating.

Because the threat is not just anybody. Wind turbines of 200 meters in length and 158 meters in width – more than double that of Elgea; the Eiffel Tower has 330m, for example – have been introduced, new roads of more than 5 meters in width to the mountains and along them large concrete foundations, etc.

These projects use the war in Ukraine as an excuse to do so immediately, claiming that it has increased the price of energy. But since last autumn the price increase was remarkable, as the production material is running out. Furthermore, 20 years ago, there was the same threat in different areas, which were left thanks to the work against the citizens and the municipalities.

Once again, the wind projects presented for Gipuzkoa do not have as a priority to guarantee the need for electricity of the Gipuzkoan citizens, but to fuel the economic desire of the rich. It is, in general, the same model that is used so often in impoverished countries, with the addition of “renewable” and “sustainable” labels: infrastructure construction, deep deterioration of the environment and the surrounding population, intensive exploitation for several years and subsequent removal of garbage and damage.

This model is unsustainable and also renewable. Wind towers are built with limited materials for each of them: one ton of concrete, 335 tons of steel, 4.7 tons of copper, 3 tons of aluminum, 2 tons of rare earth and other materials such as zinc and molybdenum. Of course, getting, transporting and handling these materials pollutes and spends a lot of fossil energy. On the other hand, the fins of the wind towers, 70 meters in length or more, work for a maximum of 25 years. When they deteriorate, even today, the vast majority are buried as waste. Renewables?

The message conveyed by media storms is that there is no choice but to carry out these macro-projects immediately. It is not true, there are many ways of obtaining energy that are already underway, without going any further, in the Basque Country itself, and better ways are emerging. Social and close governance models for the exploitation of energy resources are the most useful, placing smaller facilities closer to the places where energy is going to be consumed, prioritizing already artificialized areas – roofs, industrial polygons… –, achieving better energy efficiency and causing less damage. In several countries of Central Europe, this road has begun, while the installation of wind turbines on the mountains has been banned. It can be done otherwise, it's also invented. Why not here?

In addition to the energy crisis, it is aware that we have a social crisis model: economic, social, climate, food, health, etc., long, because everything is interrelated. Gipuzkoa is a highly industrialized, contaminated and artificialized territory. That is why, in order to emerge from this crisis in which we are immersed, we must take advantage of the mountains, forests and grasslands, their hydrological network, their biological diversity and their resources with respect and care so that the present generation and the next generation is a habitable territory. All this requires joint and comprehensive social reflection, including energy, followed by rational planning.

For all these reasons, the groups that are in favour of protecting the Gipuzkoa Mountains and we are working to curb the wind projects presented, we call on the citizens to join the mountain marches that will end on 12 October in Elosu.

Arianne Unamuno Loidi

Member of Gipuzkoako Mendia Askatasuna. They comprise: Azkoitia (also in Oleta), Azpeitia (Sañu Bizirik), Bergara (Karakate Bizirik), Elgoibar (Karakate Bizirik), Soraluze (Karakate Bizirik), Urretxu-Zumaraga (Urretxu-Zumaraga! ), Usurbil (Andatza-Ezkeltzu Bizirik), Zestoa (Sañu Bizirik), Zizurkil (Andatza-Ezkeltzu Bizirik).