Saeima introduces grounds to reject wind farm projects over cumulative impact
Latvia's Saeima has amended the environmental impact assessment law so that wind farm projects can be rejected in municipalities that already have at least 150 megawatts of wind capacity. A significant negative cumulative impact must also be established.
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The Saeima, Latvia's parliament, on Thursday adopted amendments to the law "On Environmental Impact Assessment". This is the legislation that governs how the possible effects of planned economic activity on the environment are evaluated. The new rules concern wind farm projects.
What the amendments provide
The amendments make it possible to refuse approval of a wind farm project. This can be done if the total capacity of wind power stations already in operation or holding a building permit in the municipality reaches at least 150 megawatts (MW).
The capacity threshold alone is not enough. It must also be established that the proposed project will cause, or may cause, a significant negative cumulative impact. Cumulative impact means the combined effect of several installations. The source names three areas where this impact matters: the environment, the landscape and residents' quality of life.
As a result, when a new wind farm is assessed, the existing and already permitted wind power stations in the municipality have to be taken into account, not just the project itself.
