«Fake Green Revolution, Real Damage: Wind and Photovoltaic Threatens Alta Gallura»

Wind and photovoltaic plants in Gallura: forum at the headquarters of L’Unione Sarda with the mayor of Calangianus Fabio Albieri, Gerolamo Balata (Eurispes Sardegna), Lucia Naviglio and don Francesco Tamponi.

The report of the round table.

A series of wind and photovoltaic projects hang over Alta Gallura, 10 in Tempio alone. The risks for landscape, environment and tourism?

Don Francesco Tamponi (regional head of ecclesiastical cultural heritage): «Gallura is an example, almost a metaphor. Those arriving in Tempio from Calangianus are struck by the multitude of photovoltaic panels on the roadside. The only thing that limits the expanses of mirrors is the cork oak forest in a contrast that shows the violence of those who with those artifacts say “I am more powerful” while destroying our identity and putting cultural heritage at risk, acting against the very principles they claim to be inspired by. The Cultural Heritage Code offers an important definition of landscape: “The expressive territory of identity whose character derives from the action of natural and human factors and their interactions”. Speculation disguised as an energy revolution damages the economy and threatens to destroy a very delicate culture that has always been in balance with the environment. We have almost three hundred country churches, the stazzi, if we lose this heritage and the ability to create landscape everything else will come crashing down. The Draghi government has reduced the minimum distance imposed between a cultural asset and wind turbines from seven kilometers to one and a half, five hundred meters for photovoltaic systems near ancient churches. We should not be surprised if some politicians talk a lot about environmental protection while selling it off. On the night of the great betrayal, one of the twelve apostles kissed Jesus, just as some Judas in Sardinia kisses Mother Earth while stabbing her. We do not have many weapons but we will enforce every law useful to block the wind turbines. Will we be defeated? It is possible, but we will not give up because our soul is at stake”.

Fabio Albieri (mayor of Calangianus) : «The risks are there for all to see. The panels already occupy the slopes of Limbara, on the road between Calangianus and Tempio, in a fragile territory. We as a municipal administration will oppose these devastating projects, as we have done until today. The towns of Alta Gallura have raised sustainable tourism to the flag of the territory, such impactful installations clash with this choice. Not to mention the economic repercussions: zero. This type of activity does not bring well-being and disfigures the territory, devalues the historical, environmental and cultural value. We administrators must work with determination with our populations to oppose speculators».

Gerolamo Balata (director of Eurispes Sardegna): «The ecological transition was born as a noble tool to safeguard and enhance the environment. Unfortunately, the opposite is happening. The tools provided by law to accelerate the energy transition contribute to violating the landscape with repercussions on all aspects of our lives. We have nuraghi, stazzi, the Limbara, everything that is needed for sustainable development. The 10 maxi projects for renewables presented only in the Municipality of Tempio are proof that our development model is at risk. We all need to reflect, the Administrations must oppose, many are already doing so».

Lucia Naviglio (expert in ecology applied to land management and protection): «Alta Gallura is one of the areas of greatest landscape interest, both for the granite and for the quantity of spontaneous vegetation. Those who come do so above all for this landscape, so much so that tourist activities are increasing. Transforming environmentally valuable areas into industrial zones – because that is what it is – would be a disaster for tourism, it would be better not to invest in promotion anymore. The civilization of the stazzi and what remains of the Nuragic and pre-Nuragic cultures give incredible value to the territory: why change the features? Last point: the woods are threatened by fires, if they were scattered with very tall blades how would the Canadairs put them out?».

Have you met with company representatives? What did they propose?

Swabs: «Once. They introduced themselves as responsible for the famous wind project of Saccargia trying to convince me that it was a good initiative for Sardinia. The conversation was short, very short. I am not against renewable energy, the diocese of Tempio launched the plan to put photovoltaic panels on the roofs already 20 years ago, but the actors must be the local communities. Then, of course, sometimes the Municipalities make gross errors. One example above all: the one of Codrongianos in the urban plan did not include the basilica of Saccargia as an identity asset, with disastrous consequences».

Albieri: «We were contacted by a large company. They were attentive to the opinion of the municipal administration, but we replied that we were not interested in their project. All the other companies did not take us into account, not even unofficially. They opened the construction sites without any form of discussion and sharing, even the one near the tomb of the giants of Pascaredda».

Balata: «The role I have does not allow me to have relationships with these companies».

Naviglio: «What they propose is often an imaginary world. It is true that beautiful things can be done with photovoltaic panels, but those placed in Tempio and in many other places are fenced, no one will ever take the flock to graze, the grass will be eliminated with herbicides because it is a nuisance. In short, reality is very different from the theoretical potential. The energy transition is only one piece of the ecological transition. There is the problem of pollution, fossil fuels, land consumption, agricultural overexploitation and so on. All parts of the same theme that must be put together, you can’t take one and say “I have to get to that goal, whatever the cost”. Instead it has been done. After having recently discussed it with some representatives of environmental associations that world seemed to me closed in an ivory tower, kneaded with theory but very far from the needs of the territories. A paradox for organizations born in the Seventies as a reaction to environmental problems. I would have expected them to make their voices heard to promote energy communities, photovoltaic roofs, energy savings. Unfortunately, this has not happened. The laws that have been passed have given breath to speculators. Citizens with their bills will pay for the energy produced by private individuals with very generous and unmotivated public contributions”.

Dozens of illegal immigrants worked in the Tempio construction site: in addition to the damage to the environment, there was the mockery of exploitation.

Swabs: «Non-existent jobs, the only certainty is that in Sardinia we pay much more for energy than the rest of Italy. They are getting to the point of forced expropriation of land to plant this stuff. What kind of development will we have? What opportunities do we leave to young people? There is a horizon of exploitation, speculation, violence».

Albieri: «The case of the illegal immigrants crowded into an apartment in Calangianus and used in the Tempio photovoltaic construction site speaks volumes about the effectiveness of controls in these plants. The investigation began in August 2024, when I noticed a massive number of young people of Asian origin in the streets of the town. I saw them in the evening at the supermarket, I alerted the local police and the Carabinieri. They told us their story: hired by a Polish company, they paid 350 euros each for a bed, 43 of them slept in the same house. A dramatic situation that shows the new slavery in the shadow of the green future. I fear that in Sardinia the case is not isolated».

Naviglio: «The Alta Gallura projects foresee that the specialized personnel will not be Sardinian, at most there will be some positions as security guards to monitor the borders».

Balata: «We risk the destruction of our environment, of our landscape, we will leave a desert to our children. In 20 years, when the cycle of the plants will be finished, who will restore the state of the places? I hear people say: there are guarantees. Bank or insurance? There is a big difference. Who will take care of reclaiming the land? The Municipalities will not have the money to do it. Those who underestimate the problem do so out of ignorance or bad faith».

What can be done to block projects?

Swabs: «I was struck by the complaint to the Public Prosecutor’s Office presented by the Committee for Insulting: I think it is right that compliance with the laws be verified. Before leaving, Pope Francis left us Laudato si’ , the encyclical on the care of our common home. A starting point that everyone should know. A push from below should come with the help of municipal administrations to make everyone understand the risks we are running».

Albieri: «There has already been a very important grassroots movement that produced the Pratobello law. Then the Region made other choices and the law on suitable areas was challenged by the Government. If it were to be considered unconstitutional, we would find ourselves naked in front of speculation».

Balata: «The plants should be built in the areas that are already compromised. There is a great need for a major popular movement that talks with public administrators. We should push on energy communities, but we are still very far behind. As Eurispes we have done a study and there were twelve people at the presentation. Sensitivity on this issue is lacking, perhaps we are more willing to consume the territory with wind and photovoltaic rather than think about energy savings. Regarding the identity assets: we have almost 8,000 nuraghi and while we are trying to have them recognized by UNESCO they want to obscure them in the shadow of wind turbines».

Naviglio: «The institutions should move in concert with the citizens’ committees that are carrying on the fight against speculation. The Region should also network with the other Regions for a common battle. Alone, you can’t achieve great results».

Andrea Busia – Enrico Fresu – Paolo Paolini

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