Environmental Report on «Eleja» Wind Park Recommends Dropping Six Turbines in Bauska Municipality
An environmental impact assessment for the «Eleja» wind park in Zemgale, Latvia, recommends not building six of the 20 planned turbines in Bauska Municipality because of their effect on the Rundāle Palace landscape. The developer acknowledges it will have to give up those turbines.
The environmental impact assessment (EIA) report for the «Eleja» wind energy park, planned by the company Utilitas Wind, recommends against building six of the 20 proposed turbines. The report was presented at public hearings in Bauska and Jelgava municipalities in Latvia. The six turbines would stand in Viesturi parish, Bauska Municipality, and a landscape expert judged they would have a significant negative effect on the cultural and historical landscape of the Rundāle Palace ensemble. The other 14 turbines are planned in Jelgava Municipality. Public comments can be submitted until 16 November.
Public hearings
Hearings were held at the Svitene community hall on 20 October and at the Bērvircava community hall in Sesava parish. Another is scheduled for 2 November at the Eleja community hall. The report was presented by representatives of its authors, Estonian, Latvian & Lithuanian Environment, including senior consultant Oskars Beikulis.
Landscape and Rundāle Palace
The expert concluded that lowering the turbines by 49 metres would not reduce the visual impact enough, so abandoning the six is advised regardless of height. Although the nearest turbine would be 9.7 km from the palace, under alternative A the full rotor sweep of the six closest turbines would be visible from the palace's second floor. Utilitas Wind project manager Kārlis Dreimanis confirmed the company will have to drop these turbines, but could not say whether more turbines would be added in Jelgava Municipality.
Noise, shadows and wildlife
Noise rules can be met with restrictions, but the Vestas V172-7.2 MW model with standard blades cannot meet the low-frequency noise limit near homes. Shadow flicker requires automatic shutdown systems. Nine turbines lie in high bat-activity zones and must be halted seasonally, while bird protection requires pausing turbines during nearby farm work.
Residents' concerns
Construction would last about two years and include roughly 15.6 km of new access roads and a battery storage system of up to 400 MWh. Residents worry about road conditions and well water; Beikulis said geological studies do not confirm such a risk.
