Here we publish a letter from some environmental associations on the issue of wind farms addressed to the Corriere della Sera, commenting on a previous article by Ernesto Galli della Loggia, together with his comment in response.
We share the article by Ernesto Galli della Loggia “The immoral business of wind farms”, published in Corriere della Sera on November 11, and we thank the author for having clearly illustrated a situation that has been causing, for some years now, the devastation of environment and landscape of most of the Italian territory.
If Molise is bad, Abruzzo is not better. The High Vasto lands, part of the province of Chieti bordering Molise, which features a high landscape value, is under heavy attack by companies that wish to install large wind farms there. A few years ago the beautiful mountains of the eastern side of the Valle del Trigno, in the municipalities of Schiavi d’Abruzzo, Castiglione Messer Marino and others, were destroyed by hundreds of wind turbines. Now it is up to the mountains and hills of the Valle del Trigno and Maiella. The Abruzzo Region Committee for the Assessment of Environmental Impact will soon have to decide on a wind farm project in the town of Pizzoferrato, which provides for the installation of giant wind turbines, 150 metres high, in a still pristine area, where you might meet the Marsican brown bear, a wildlife species seriously endangered with extinction, and also some very rare species of birds, including someone strictly protected at Community level, such as the red kite, which are easily killed by collision with the rotating blades of wind turbines. An equally large wind farm is planned in the municipality of Tornimparte, in the province of L’Aquila, in the high mountains near the Sirente-Velino Regional Park, one of the last remnants of the wildest Apennines.
The signatories of this letter are very concerned because, in several similar cases, the Abruzzo Region Committee has already authorized the construction of devastating wind farms both in the province of L’Aquila and in the province of Chieti. These areas are frequented by animals of exceptional natural value, which represents, by the way, the utmost attraction for eco-tourism, one of the few growing local economic activities. Many havoc has already been wrought but much more is in store. For brevity we have reminded only two of these projects. We wonder what will be left in a few years of Abruzzo, pompously defined by the Region as the green region of Europe and the region of the Parks. With these administrators, who truly fear that it will be so for a short time to come.
—
Some time ago I had the opportunity to meet the President of the Abruzzo region, Mr. Chiodi. From how I could know the person, I would like to believe that he will not let the wretched projects mentioned in this letter to be achieved.
Ernesto Galli della Loggia