In the heart of the Ionian Sea, the island of Kythira has become a battleground between the energy transition and the need to protect its natural resources. In his in-depth report for Inside Story, journalist Yannis Palaiologos sheds light on all aspects of the controversial case involving the installation of three new wind farms with a total capacity of 135 MW by the consortium of TTERNA Energy and VECTOR.
With the Environmental Impact Study (EIS) having been submitted back in April and the public consultation set to end on July 9, the local community is reacting strongly. Most of the project’s 30 wind turbines are planned to be installed within the Nature Protection Zone (NPZ), a Natura site of particular importance for migratory birds. The failure to formalize the Special Environmental Study (SEA)—which was completed in October 2023 but has not been signed—raises serious questions regarding transparency and political will.
The mayor of Kythira, the Local Property Committee, environmental organizations, and hundreds of citizens are denouncing a «pharaonic project» that disregards the island’s ecological sensitivity and undermines its status as a destination of natural and cultural significance. The report reveals the technical details of the project, the shortcomings of the feasibility study, the pressure exerted on the relevant authorities, and the opinions of experts who warn of the consequences for the region’s unique migratory corridor.
A revelation that serves as a wake-up call for Kythira, but also for the policy of «green development» without environmental and social limits.
You can read the article by clicking the link below:
https://insidestory.gr/article/poios-tha-prostateysei-ti-fysi-apo-tin-prasini-energeia
