The mayor of Valchi dol: We have an idea for a local referendum on the wind farm

The mayor of Valchi dol, Kaloyan Tsvetkov, answered the questions of “EcoVarna” on the topic of the construction of a wind farm by “Dobrotich Wind”. Tsvetkov was elected to the post in 2023 after being nominated by seven coalitions, replacing the then GERB mayor Georgi Tronkov.

– Mr. Tsvetkov, will there eventually be a wind energy park “Dobrotich Wind” on the territory of Valchi Dol municipality? What is the decision of the Municipal Council and is there a challenge?

– The decision of the Municipal Council, which was adopted at the session on March 15, is that the wind generators should be at a distance of 10 times the height of the facility from the urbanized territory. According to their investment intent, the height of the blade plus the rotor is 270 meters, which means they should be 2.7 kilometers from the urbanized area. Currently, there is an appeal from “Dobrotich Wind” against the decision, which has been sent to the Sofia Administrative Court.

– What capacities for extracting energy from renewable sources are there on the territory of the municipality?

– They are very different. At the moment, there are only built photovoltaics and a project for photovoltaics. But not for wind turbines. In terms of power, each park has a different power. Some are 800 kilowatts, others are 600.

– What investment intentions for the production of energy from renewable sources are there on the territory of the municipality and at what stage of implementation are they?

– The facilities are only photovoltaics. In any case, we have adopted an analysis that dates back to 2015. Each municipality is obliged to make its own investment policy for renewable energy sources. In our analysis, it is categorically stated that wind turbines will not be appropriate for the production of electricity for our area. The City Council already had an adopted policy back then.

– Why is it preferred to build solar parks instead of wind turbines, for example?

– Solar parks are built only on lands that are of the seventh category and above. There are no solar parks built on cultivable land that is in the second, third, fourth and fifth categories. Dobrotich Wind’s investment intention is on its own land, which is second, third and fourth category. This contradicts Article 21, paragraph two of the Constitution. Because it is described there that the agricultural land is used only for agricultural purposes, not for energy purposes.

– What is the opinion of the residents of the municipality about the construction of the Dobrotich Wind wind park?

– The local population does not want to have it. Even in 2020 and 2021, they organized protests. They don’t want this park because the farmland will be lost. According to the investment intention, the foundation where the wind turbine will be placed – the 50 facilities on the territory of Valchi Dol municipality cover 3 acres with 3500 cubic meters of reinforced concrete. There are more easements, routes. Thus, very large uncultivable lands, which are fertile, are covered.

– If the topic is so important to people, don’t you think it would be appropriate to organize a local referendum?

– For a local referendum, we all know that there must be more than 50 percent of those who voted in order for a decision to be made or not. The question must be formulated very precisely so as not to cause confusion among the population. We have some idea of a local referendum, but everything has to be agreed. There must also be a public discussion with the local population, there must be a decision of the Municipal Council. Either way we listen to them, they chose us.

– In your opinion, who inspired the conflict between the population and the investor?

– I don’t think the right word is conflict, but the local people are against the construction.

– Your prediction – how will the saga end?

– I can’t say, everything depends on the court. The municipal council is not the authorizing body, since the project is for the territory of two municipalities and in such cases the regional governor makes the decision. But the Municipal Council adopted a decision that is in line with European practices. It is related to countries that have defined such practices – Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland. There are studies that wind turbines are harmful to the health of the population, while here the information is a little blurred. Therefore, they decided to place them at a distance of 10 times the height of the facility. Here, the regulation that is currently in force is from 2006. It says that a wind turbine can be placed 500 meters from an urbanized area. Yes, but at the time – 2006, the wind turbines were 50 m tall, which means 500 meters, as it is calculated 10 times the height. However, with new trends, turbines are becoming more and more powerful, and this regulation has not changed. And now a facility with a height of 270 meters, I do not think that it should also be placed at 500 meters. Therefore, the Municipal Council of Valchi dol adopted this decision.

– What type of investors are welcome in the municipality? Give specific examples.

– All kinds of investors are welcome on the territory of the municipality. I do not divide them into certain groups. Anyone who wants to develop an activity – be it commercial, social or otherwise – is welcome. Not for anything else, but because jobs will be procured for the population.

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