If the Mistral wind farm – 32 blades 355 metres high in the sea, visible from the coast – were given the green light, what effects would it have on fishing, tourism and the landscape?

Giangiuseppe Vargiu (mayor of Narbolia): «Many, none positive, because it would destroy what we have protected up to now. The positioning of plants with enormous dimensions would have the consequence that they would also be seen from the pine forest of Is Arenas and from other magnificent corners, they would destroy what everyone seeks: peace and magic, naturalness, landscapes. We are rich in sites of community interest, what sense would there be in finding a horizon with wind turbines?».

Andrea Loche (mayor of Cuglieri): «The matter itself is quite difficult. I have seen the simulations attached to the project, if they were credible it would mean that the actual impact is less impressive than what is feared, but the problem is that the impact will be there. All the technical means exist to know exactly what effects they will produce, why not use them? It goes without saying that the controls and checks on heights, compatibility and distances must be done by those who authorize or reject the plants and not by those who propose the investment. Even though it is in international waters, a definitive word from the ministry would be needed to establish a minimum distance of the blades from the coasts».

Paolo Pradelli (hotel management): «The approach to the issue is wrong. The Region should publicize in a transparent and unequivocal manner the objectives and how it intends to achieve them. Only in this way would it be possible to understand whether the projects on the table are truly linked to the energy transition or if they are just speculation, keeping in mind that these decisions will reverberate on future generations. If we destroy the ecosystem to produce clean energy, what sense does it make? Vice versa, if we respect the environment and the landscape, why not?».

Antonio Loi (president of the Marceddì fishing consortium): «It would be terrible news for our sector. We fishermen of Marceddì have on one side the military base, on the other they want to plant wind turbines in the sea, in the middle there are the problems of the category. They want to make us emigrate to other territories. The bill to block this assault should have collected 10 thousand signatures and instead it has well exceeded one hundred and twenty thousand, it means that the Sardinians do not want interventions that compromise the paradise in which we live. I am 73 years old and I have been doing this job since I was 12, unfortunately I think that the damage has already been done and the Sardinians will not benefit from this energy».

Don Ignazio Serra (Pastoral of Tourism): «The distance of the blades from the coast should be regulated in the same way throughout Italy. Not only to protect tourism but also to protect those like us who live in Sardinia all year round. I just returned from Mallorca, it is devoured by tourists: fortunately our island is liveable and we must safeguard it. We must exploit the wind and the sun by finding suitable places to do so. “Sardinia is our land, we must defend it”, repeats our bishop, we act in the interests of the community respecting the popular will, without blocking the energy transition».

Have you been contacted by the company? Have they offered you any compensation?

Vargiu: «Never. Instead, during Ferragosto the ministry asked us to submit observations on the project».

Loche: «Nothing at all».

Pradelli: «Maybe they will get in touch if and when they open the construction site to book a room»,

Loi: «The only contact we had was some time ago with the intermediary of a French company that deals with renewables. He proposed to us to sell half of the San Giovanni pond, in exchange they would have supported the electricity costs of the Consortium. I didn't even answer him».

Don Ignazio Serra: «No».

In the State-Regions agreement, Sardinia has agreed to produce at least 6.2 additional gigawatts with renewables: can the number be reconsidered to reduce it?

Vargiu: «I think it is essential to understand better, have more information, and then re-discuss the 6.2 gigawatts. Without wasting time, because otherwise we risk favoring those who only aim to speculate».

Loche: «The numerical dimension is important but I don't think it is the crux of the problem. What is important is establishing certain rules to prevent the damage from being greater than the benefits».

Pradelli: «It would be a common sense choice».

Loi: «Very useful, but I think it's no longer possible».

Don Ignazio Serra: «It should be evaluated by those who have all the cards to then decide fairly».

Which areas do you consider suitable to host the new facilities?

Vargiu: «Abandoned industrial areas, quarries, not here because the quarries are on the sea. Abandoned and in any case degraded areas. It will be a problem to identify them».

Loche: «It is impossible for the Municipalities to maintain that an area is suitable regardless: it must be differentiated with the various typologies, the constraints. Building a rule that applies to all the centers of Sardinia is really complex. In the meantime, I would eliminate the shortcuts and subject all the projects for renewables to ordinary procedures».

Pradelli: «We live in a strange country where it is complicated to obtain authorizations for a gazebo and a cycle path is blocked because it is deemed too close to the Cabras pond. Yet a preferential lane is offered, with simplified procedures, to renewable energy projects, even in “sensitive” places. In my opinion, they should concentrate them in industrial areas, I am thinking of Porto Torres or Ottana».

Loi: «I have friends who have lots of solar panels in Terralba, in areas far from everything, they also earn a bit of money. Nobody is against the energy transition but it is crazy to think of placing these gigantic poles in places where you can't even put a nail. The Region made me clear out a small zoo with pheasants and other birds that I had created for the fish tourism customers and now they want to authorize this outrage? Incredible».

Don Ignazio Serra: «If the affront, the devastation they are planning a stone's throw from the Nuragic palace of Barumini, in a highly protected context, the treasure chest of our history as Sardinians and the only UNESCO site in Sardinia, becomes possible, then everything can be compromised. Visual pollution is no less serious than what we can create in the seas, in the rivers. I think we could opt for abandoned industrial areas. Never in those linked to tourism, agriculture, our history».

The moratorium approved by the Region?

Vargiu: «In that moment of so much disorder he put a stop».

Loche: «Certainly a necessary act that has introduced innovations of a certain importance for agricultural companies. I will not enter into the merits of the appeal».

Pradelli: «I consider it important if it can help us gain the time needed to establish the rules».

Loi: «A waste of time»

Don Ignazio Serra: «The bleeding has stopped. Temporarily».

The Pratobello bill?

Vargiu: «It has stirred public opinion, people have finally had information on the assault that has been going on for a couple of years».

Loche: «It gave a strong, immediate and important signal of the will of a part of the Sardinians, it clearly indicated which was the path to follow. However, it seems to me that it is surpassed by the proposal of suitable areas».

Pradelli: «Fundamental because it has shed light on a serious problem. It has refuted the thesis that Sardinians are disunited, it is an important starting point».

Loi: «The word of over one hundred thousand Sardinians should be listened to and carried forward in every place. Instead I fear that in the coming years we will continue to talk about wind turbines while they build the new plants».

Don Ignazio Serra: «He turned on the spotlight in the middle of the darkness, he had the effect of a sentinel shouting while people sleep, in a moment of great mass distraction. We must necessarily move towards the energy transition which however must not be reduced to an economic transaction: someone does business and the others suffer, which is unfortunately what is happening. There must be a collective will, but politicians sometimes get distracted and do not listen to the voice of the base».

Michael Masala

Paul Paolini

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