The Kythira Citizens' Movement-Dynamo Kythira issued a press release on Friday afternoon to inform citizens about developments regarding the industrial wind farms to be installed near the settlements of MMylopotamos and Aroniadika.
PRESS RELEASE
Following the Energy Regulatory Authority’s rejection of the administrative appeals filed by the Municipality of Kythira, the Local Property Committee, and numerous residents and associations-associations on the island regarding the wind farms in the areas of FOINIKIES and MERMIGKARIS, which are owned by the Kopelouzos Group (PIRITIUM S.A.), regarding which we issued a press release, were followed by TWO ADDITIONAL REJECTIONS by the same independent authority.
On March 9, 2021, the REAG’s DECISIONS TO REJECT the administrative appeals filed, on the one hand, by the Municipality of Kythira-Local Property Committee, and, on the other hand, by residents and associations of the island, regarding the licenses for electricity generation from industrial wind farms in the areas of KROTIRI-KEFALAKIA (above Agia Pelagia) and KROTIRI-KEFALOVOUNI-PYRGOS (BETWEEN ARONIADIKA AND KATO CHORA MYLOPOTAMOU) in the interests of the ELLAKTOR S.A. group. The slapdash nature of energy licensing in Greece was revealed once again in Kythira IN THE MOST RESOUNDING WAY.
According to the SPECIAL SPATIAL PLANNING FRAMEWORK for Renewable Energy Sources (RES) the siting of wind turbines must meet, among other things, the following criteria:
1. Minimum distance from monuments and historical sites of major significance: 3,000 meters
2. The minimum distance from designated cultural monuments is 500 meters and no less than 7 times the rotor diameter, which in this specific case is 90 meters. Therefore, the minimum distance for a wind turbine is 630 meters.
3. Minimum distance from traditional settlements: 1,500 meters. In cases where the settlement has not been officially demarcated (such as those of Mylopotamos and Kato Chora), the distance is calculated as 500 meters from the last residence in the settlement.
In the case of the industrial wind farm in the KROTIRI-KEFALOVOUNI-PYRGOS area (west of Skliri, between the traditional settlements of Mylopotamos and Aroniadika), these provisions are being VIOLATED, as:
1. The Byzantine settlement of Mylopotamos has been repeatedly designated a HISTORIC SITE and a MONUMENT OF MAJOR IMPORTANCE through a series of government decisions, along withwell-known castles such as those of Methoni, Koroni, and Monemvasia. The distance to the nearest wind turbines at the station in question is significantly less than the 3,000 meters stipulated by law. This Venetian castle has archaeological significance comparable to that of the castle in Chora, Kythira.
2. The Pyrgos hill is also designated as a HISTORIC SITE. The wind turbines are being located within a historic site!!
3. Mylopotamos is a TRADITIONAL SETTLEMENT, and the minimum distances mentioned above are also being violated
4. The Byzantine church of Saint George has been designated a HISTORIC PRESERVED MONUMENT. It is located at the foot of the Krotiri hill and is less than 300 meters from the nearest wind turbines.
ALL OF THE ABOVE HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE REGULATORY AUTHORITY FOR ENERGY (RAE) THROUGH THE REVIEW APPLICATIONS. THE RAEESSENTIALLY DECLARES THAT IT LACKS THE AUTHORITY TO EVALUATE THE ABOVE ARGUMENTS AND TO REVIEW THE GENERATION LICENSESIT ISSUED, SINCE IT IS UNAWARE OF THEIR EXISTENCE AS IT OUGHS TO BE. AND THUS, THE LAW WHICH STATES THAT COMPLIANCE WITH THE SPECIFIC SPATIAL PLANNING FRAMEWORK MUST BEASSESSED AT THIS STAGE OF THE LICENSING PROCESS (i.e., the production license) BY THE REGULATORY AUTHORITY FOR ENERGY (RAE) IS NOT BEING ENFORCED!
P.S. It should be noted that, according to the Sustainable Energy Action Plan (S.D.A.E.) of the Municipality of Kythira, the island’s average daily electricity demand is 3.6 megawatts. The four generation licenses that have been granted are for 150 megawatts, and including the other applications that ‘are in the pipeline,’ the total amounts to 253.5 megawatts—that is, 70 times greater than the island’s needs!!
Relevant information is attached:
