Labour expresses doubt, AD says ‘time to walk the walk’
Matthew Vella
More studies are to be prepared on three sites being earmarked for land and offshore wind farms, the Prime Minister said yesterday, in an attempt to inject renewed interest into an ambitious project for renewable energy.
The sites are Wied Rini and Hal Far for land-based wind farms, and the Sikka l-Bajda for the offshore site.
Lawrence Gonzi said the government was being “serious” about the project, estimated to cost some €80 million, after experts reportedly said that an offshore wind farm at Sikka L-Bajda was not viable – a statement first published by green party Alternattiva Demokratika.
Gonzi said more detailed studies were being prepared, among them studies into wind power, aviation and maritime activity, and environmental impacts.
Gonzi said Malta was bound by clear targets on renewable energy by 2020. “We don’t have the luxury to wait for the development of technology without first maximising on the existing alternatives. It would be a mistake for us to postpone decisions that would impact competitiveness, the environment, and our health.”
He added that the wind farms were just one of several other projects aimed at tackling climate change, listing the recent change in registration tax for vehicles to incentivise purchase of cleaner cars, waste-to-energy plants, energy tariffs that encouraged the reduction of consumption, and new schemes for encouraging solar energy.
Resources Minister George Pullicino said any debate on the wind farms’ impact would have to factor in the size limitations Malta faces. “We have clear targets to generate 10% of our energy from clean sources, and win is crucial, along with solar energy and waste, to reach this target.”
In a reaction, Alternattiva’s Demokratika spokesperson on energy Ralph Cassar said that AD had called for the studies into wind energy to be made public and that it was now clear that no detailed studies have been conducted.
“Such projects are of utmost importance, not only because of targets set for EU member states, but also for Malta to start walking the walk… the proposed studies announced by the Prime Minister are a positive development. It looks like the whole process will be public and transparent.
“We also believe it is important that schemes for energy generation by individual households are introduced. A clear policy by MEPA on micro-turbines and policies guaranteeing access to roof space for owners of apartments to be able to install solar panels are also very important. We call for parliament to enact a renewable energy law which rewards consumers for feeding electricity produced from renewable and clean sources into the grid.”
On his part, Labour’s environment spokesperson Leo Brincat noted that the PM had procrastinated on the wind energy studies, and had not yet published the technical studies commissioned in the last months, some advising against the farms, he said.
“Government hasn’t even said whether it’s indeed true that the preferred sites for wind farms were changed on advice of foreign consultants simply because they need updated studies. The prime minister must not only publish all these studies but also the technical reactions and minority reports which disagreed with the Sikka l-Bajda proposal.”
Brincat also said the PM must confirm whether Gozo has been excluded from being used for a wind farm, despite technical advice proposing such a site for a large installation, simply on a “political decision”.
He said the public should know why government was going back on its decision for offshore wind technology, by now considering land-based farms. “People have the right to ask whether government’s decision is based on technical, or political criteria, and why is keeping government from publishing these studies.”
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