A total of 60% of the population, who participated in a general online survey organized by an international environmental consulting company, demonstrated support for the idea to create Laflora wind farm in Kaigu Mire, Jelgava district municipality.
A total of 60% of the population, who participated in a general online survey conducted by the international environmental consulting company Estonian, Latvian & Lithuanian Environment, from March 20 to April 3, demonstrated support for the idea to create Laflora wind farm in Kaigu Mire, Jelgava district municipality. A total of 191 persons, mainly residents of Jelgava city and Jelgava district municipality, participated in the survey on the intention of peat extraction and processing company Laflora to create a wind farm in post-harvested peatland in Kaigu Mire. Of all the respondents, 60% of the population support or rather support the establishment of a wind farm, 37% responded that they do no support or rather do not support the idea. It should be noted that these assessments are in line with the assessment of the total types of energy production in Latvia where 63% of respondents to this survey indicated that wind energy production in Latvia is generally supported or rather supported, but 33% - do not support or rather do not support it. In addition, when assessing the suitability of wind energy for Latvian conditions, compared to other types of renewable energy resources, wind energy production ranks first – supported by 37% of respondents, while solar energy production – 29%, hydropower (water) production – 18%, and biomass energy production – 11%.
According to Uldis Ameriks, Chairman of the Board of Laflora: “This wind farm can be seen from two sides. First, we want to compensate the greenhouse gas emissions caused by peat extraction – with the wind farm which produces environmentally friendly, “green” electricity. This way we will ensure sustainable peatlands management, because we plan to extract peat in the adjacent company owned mire Drabiņu purvs for several more decades. Second, the wind farm is a significant contribution to achieving Latvia's climate goals; both the National Energy and Climate Plan and the European Green Deal insist on increasing the share of renewable energy resources in the energy portfolio.”
It is planned that Laflora wind farm will be able to produce about 300 GWH of electricity per year, which is about 5% of Latvia's total annual electricity consumption. The company plans to use the produced electricity for own consumption in the peat production factory, as well as to offer it on the public market. Alongside with wind farm in Kaigu Mire, Laflora also plans to establish plant nurseries and vegetable greenhouse complexes, which will use its own energy, providing dozens of new jobs. Assessing the potential impact of the wind farm, residents also have a positive view of the wind farm's ability to create economic development and growth in the area (55%), and the ability to increase employment in both in the wind farm and in related production units (54%).
The biggest concern is the negative impact of wind farm on the value of real estate – 40% of respondents indicated that it could have a negative or rather negative impact. When assessing the physical impact of wind farm, the respondents most often noted changes in the landscape (71%), the shadow flicker effect of wind turbines (55%), noise (53%), and potential vibration (52%).
A detailed analysis of the views on potential impacts will be included in environmental impact assessment report, and communicated with the public during the public consultation. Expert opinions on the potential impacts are summarized in a short-film about the Laflora wind farm idea – HERE.
A public survey was conducted from 20 March to 3 April 2020. It was a part of the preparation of environmental impact assessment report for the Laflora wind farm project. The survey was conducted online, as the state of emergency (due to COVID-19) was declared in the country, and therefore the opportunities for the interviews in person were limited. The results will be summarized in a report and submitted to the State Environmental Bureau. The survey was anonymous, and it was administered by the international environmental consulting company Estonian, Latvian & Lithuanian āEnvironment.
Laflora would like to thank everyone who has shown interest in the wind farm idea, asked questions or expressed an opinion. Considering that wind farms of this scale are new in Latvia, it is especially important that no questions remain unanswered during the project development stage. In the coming months, residents will have the opportunity to participate in the public consultation of Laflora wind farm idea.
As already reported, the idea of the wind farm is planned to be implemented by peat extraction and processing company Laflora, in Jelgava district municipality, in Kaigu Mire owned by the company. It will be located in post-harvested peatland surrounded by forests. In total, the placement of 22 wind turbines is planned in the wind farm.
More about the idea here: Wind farm, by e-mail vejaparks@laflora.lv, or by phone +371 26539348.
