Pāvilosta residents raise concerns over offshore wind farm

Residents of Pāvilosta voiced opposition to the planned ELWIND offshore wind farm, citing concerns about the landscape, nature and fishing, LSM reported. Nearly 80 people attended a public consultation in the town on November 5.

The Latvia-Estonia project is planned in the Baltic Sea, about 30 kilometres off the Kurzeme coast. Residents also raised concerns about turbine disposal and pollution. Fisherman Uldis Tūrāns said fish are caught mainly in the shallows, where he believes wind farms should be built.

The wind farm is being developed by the Latvian Investment and Development Agency. It is planned to cover 200 square kilometres and include between 20 and 67 power stations.

Research is due to continue until 2028, with some studies already under way. So far, researchers have completed only work that could be done relatively quickly, including seabed scanning and the compilation of existing data, project consultant Oskars Beikulis said. Attendees were also briefed on findings so far about fish stocks, birds, bats and marine mammals.

Beikulis said that if the project has no investor within seven years, the environmental impact assessment process would essentially have to be repeated. Research meeting international standards is important for attracting potential investors, but may not be completed within the planned timeframe.

The consultation in Pāvilosta drew far more people than an earlier meeting in Ventspils about an offshore wind farm, which was attended by six people.