A round table on the offshore wind projects presented for the stretch of sea that goes from Teulada to Pula. It took place in the editorial office of L'Unione Sarda and was attended by Alberto Bertolotti (entrepreneur and president of Confcommercio Sud Sardegna), Domenico Bagalà (director of Nuovi Progetti at Forte Village), Concetta Spada (mayor of Domus de Maria), Walter Cabasino (mayor of Pula) and Angelo Milia (mayor of Teulada).
If even just one of the projects were approved, dozens of wind turbines over two hundred meters high would appear in the stretch of sea between Teulada and Pula: what would be the effects on the landscape and tourism?
Alberto Bertolotti: «It is madness that the Sardinian community is forced to defend itself from a treacherous assault with such an impact on our main sources of income, tourism and the landscape. The repercussions would be devastating. It is incredible, especially if you consider that the Sardinians cannot move a pin without first obtaining a series of authorizations, the rules are so stringent that it is almost impossible to build a golf course or modify the suite of a large hotel. Nautical tourism, which fortunately grows year after year, would also pay a very high price. I like to use the words with which Prefect De Matteis took his leave a few days ago: “Sardinia is a place of the soul for the Sardinians and for those who choose to come here on holiday and to work”. We are selling territory, landscape and environment, what is happening will affect the fundamental values that lead to the choice of destination Sardinia».
Domenico Bagalà: «It would cause unacceptable damage to our image, it would make our promotional campaign, which focuses on the uncontaminated environmental context and the unique microclimate in the Mediterranean, scarcely credible. It would be absolutely incompatible with all the efforts to promote the island and, as far as we are concerned, Forte Village».
Concetta Spada: «Since 2022 we have said no because, using simulations, we have had proof that it would erase years of hard work and investments that guarantee environmental sustainability: what do wind turbines have to do with a protected marine area? It is not acceptable for a Municipality that bases development on the environment and tourism. The landscape is a visual and emotional sensation that we all perceive, in this way it would be distorted forever».
Walter Cabasino: «It is a speculation that would have a destructive and irreversible impact. I will summarize with an image: during the day, from the archaeological site of Nora, instead of admiring a clean horizon, you would see the wind turbines - also evident in the simulation of the companies that proposed them - and during the many prestigious shows that are staged at night, you would notice a sea of red lights on the horizon, as if it were an industrial area. For us, it is unacceptable because it would call into question the landscape that is the engine of the economy of the entire territory».
Angelo Milia: «To understand the effect it would have, just think of the madness of the planners who plan to have cable ducts cross the Tuerredda beach. There is another aspect: the tourist port aims to grow despite the grip of the military polygon, if a front wall of wind turbines were added it would be the end».
Have you ever met the representatives of the companies that want to build the plants?
Bertolotti: «I haven't seen or heard them, I don't know who they are, I have no idea what connections they might have here in Sardinia».
Bagalà: «We have no news».
Spada: «We legally opposed the projects and we received some phone calls aimed at obtaining a meeting. In agreement with the Board and the councilors, we decided to postpone the matter in order to continue our legal process: the face to face meeting would have been useless».
Cabasino: «We met them. There were majority and minority, in this game we are always united. We reiterated our clear no even to the vague proposals they made us. Besides, our idea of development is completely different and the entrepreneurs agree with us».
Milia: «No contact».
Where to build renewable energy plants?
Bertolotti: «It makes me think of the many abandoned industrial areas, landscapes already compromised. If we have to commit a devastation, let's do it there, in areas that are already infrastructured».
Bagalà: «In the industrial areas, there are certainly already infrastructures. In the sea, they cannot be placed at 24 kilometers – this is the distance foreseen in the projects – but at 100, yes. It is a question of costs, and it must be resolved».
Spada: «100 kilometers from the coast, without spoiling the landscape. But these companies only want profit. We invested half a million to renovate the belvedere at Capo Spartivento which, if the projects were approved, would have a view of the wind turbines, pleasant as a fist».
Cabasino: «It is understandable that the wind turbines are placed in areas already designated for industrial development and, in the sea, at such a distance that they are not visible: imagine the effect of these towers in the gulf during the world-famous fashion show that Dolce and Gabbana did in Nora in July».
Milia: «The solution is to move them away from the coast, invisible from the shoreline. We cannot think of enclosing Sardinia in a cage of wind turbines. We already pay a huge price for military easements, 60 percent are in Sardinia, now they would like to inflict energy easements on us too».
In the State-Regions agreement, Sardinia has agreed to produce at least 6.2 gigawatts with renewable energy by 2030.
Bertolotti: «The agreements can be renegotiated, it depends on the will to do so. I think that number is too high and should be remodulated».
Bagalà: «Of course an agreement can be modified».
Spada: «Perhaps the rush and the fear of not being protagonists pushed the Region to sign that agreement. In my opinion it is not a fixed point: we need to understand how much energy we need and reconsider the situation in general to give relief to our region».
Cabasino: «I want to be positive, I can't think that a disaster like this could happen. Let's start again from the energy needs of Sardinia, there is room for renegotiation, I don't think that the national government wants to get in the way and have the entire island against it: we mayors perceive the mood of the citizens and we know that there is a popular feeling against it».
Milia: «Establishing how much energy our region needs is essential to reduce the 6.2 gigawatts expected».
How do you imagine the energy transition?
Bertolotti: «From what I read, it seems to me that hydrogen could be the future».
Bagalà: «A mix of clean energy: hydrogen, geothermal, mini hydroelectric, photovoltaic and wind, obviously within sustainable limits».
Spada: «The transition must be done without this aggressiveness that can lead to gigantic errors by trampling on the cost-benefit ratio».
Cabasino: «It is an irreversible path that I fully agree with. We must use everything that technology provides us, avoiding the aggression that nullifies the path and stiffens citizens and municipalities. I do not demonize offshore but what has been missing is the involvement of the territories. There has been a neocolonialist aggression with choices imposed from above. Suffice it to say that they called the projects for the Nora 1 and Nora 2 plants, like the archaeological site: it is offensive, it gives me the shivers».
Milia: «The artful use of semantics can create monsters: they call wind farms what are plants, not parks. There can be no impositions. The use of technology is fundamental, we must not neglect any hypothesis».
What do you think about the moratorium?
Bertolotti: «We hope that this is not just a way to postpone the search for a solution».
Bagalà: «It is useful to the extent that effective solutions are found».
Spada: «It didn't solve the problem, it served to give a public dimension to the gravity of the situation».
Cabasino: «I judge it positively, it is a moment to think and become aware».
Milia: «It is not a decisive action, but certainly a first step that will have to be followed by something else».
The Pratobello '24 bill?
Bertolotti: «It is a meritorious action, to be supported, I will try to involve the national Confcommercio to join this salvation movement».
Bagalà: «We are certainly in favor, all the tourism entrepreneurs participated».
Spada: «We are actively participating in the collection of signatures because we hope that those who have to legislate will do so with the courage of popular pressure».
Cabasino: "Regardless of how it goes, I consider it a democratic initiative of great importance. I think the proposal will be welcomed by President Todde because it gives her strength in the negotiations with the government. In Pula we reached a thousand signatures, we have also prepared separate lists for many tourists affected by the threat hanging over Sardinia".
Milia: «It certainly serves to awaken consciences and create a unity of the people, which is what is happening».
Mark Walnut
Paul Paolini
Francesco Pintore