The municipal council of the municipality of Agrinio has unanimously given a negative opinion on an Environmental Impact Study concerning a project for a floating photovoltaic power plant in the Kremaston Artificial Lake.
The study foresees the installation of the Floating Photovoltaic Plant in the Kremaston artificial lake, which serves the Kremaston Hydroelectric Plant. It is noted that the Kremaston hydroelectric project was constructed by the Public Power Corporation in 1966.
The Municipality concludes that the proposed project will contribute to the agro-tourism development of the area. As stated in the project study, it does not take into account the memorandum of cooperation from 2021 between the Regions of Western Greece and Central Greece for the implementation of the “Integrated Management and Promotion Plan for the Lakes and Artificial Dams Upstream of the Kremasta Dam to the mouth of the Acheloos”.
The Plan, for Lake Kremasta, provides for the improvement of road access to the Lake, the creation of piers for the docking of small boats, outdoor recreation infrastructure and equipment, and Visitor Information Centers. It also includes the laying of paths in the lakeside area, the completion of the mapping of the lak,e and the organization of environmental education activities. Based on the Plan, the development of nautical sports, culture, and entertainment activities is envisaged, as well as the support and encouragement of primary production, with absolute respect for the natural environment. The proposed project, according to the Municipality, is contrary to the development perspective of these activities.
Furthermore, it is noted that in order to draw conclusions regarding the impacts on the rich fauna of the area, a detailed Ornithological Study and a Special Ecological Assessment should be prepared for both the location of the station and for connection projects to the land section.
According to the Municipality, the project will have irreversible visual pollution from all settlements around Lake Kremasta, both its southern side, in the area of the Municipality of Agrinio, and its northern side, in the area of Evrytania. Furthermore, visual pollution will not be limited either by the Episkopi bridge, a point of tourist interest, or by the wider road network of Aitoloakarnania and Evrytania, which constitutes a key pillar of the tourism development of the Regional Units.
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