Environmentalists vs. the constructor of wind farm on the Borzhava: two sides of the same project

The debate on the construction of wind power plants on the slopes of the Polonyna Borzhava peaks continues. Arguments against this project are presented on the page of the community "Save the Borzhava".

– Under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) procedure, the Atlas Volovets Energy LLC submitted the Notice of Planned Activities. This document is really worth reading, as it clearly demonstrates the methods of the developer: unfair business practices, provision of incomplete or inaccurate information and outright manipulation.

First of all, the Notice does not provide enough information to understand the scale of the project. There is no word in the text about transformer substations, switch cabinets and other large facilities planned to be built on the slopes of the peaks of the Polonyna Borzhava. The authors also keep silent about the catastrophic consequences for the development of sports, tourism and recreation in the surrounding areas, arguing that the tourist attractiveness of the region will increase.

Instead, the developer promises the local population huge proceeds from the rent of the land, which will go in particular for "reconstruction of existing road and their subsequent maintenance." However, according to public data, the rent, which Volovets and Svalyava districts receive, will be enough to repair only 100-150 m of the road.

As a technical alternatives to the wind farm, the developer suggests the construction of a thermal or NUCLEAR power plant. Obviously, in the highlands of the Carpathians, it is just not possible, and therefore the proposed alternatives look like an awkward attempt to scare the local population. In addition, offering such alternatives, the developer contradicts its own thesis on the development of "green" technologies and reduction of harmful emissions into the atmosphere. In this context it would be logical to consider as an alternative the construction of a solar power plant or other renewable evergy source.

Misleading information, intentional inaccuracies and provision of inaccurate data are the main features of the Notice from the Atals Volovets Energy LLC. Curently, more than 80 pages of comments to the Notice and proposals from leading scholars of Ukraine, NGOs and activists have been submitted to the Regional State Administration. Scientists demand a number of fundamental studies that will take no less than a year, and, according to the law, the Atlas Volovets Energy LLC has no right to ignore them.