ENEL – Bagnore – 06.03.2019
PROJECT – On the 18th of December 2018, Enel Green Power submitted a project to the
Region of Tuscany for a new 20 MW geothermal power station to be built in Roccalbegna. The prospective area is situated around 1,7 km north of Triana Castle up to the boundaries of the municipalities of Arcidosso, Santa Fiora and Semproniano. It is to be a flash- technology station, the most profitable solution for Enel and the most polluting solution for our region and us. The station would comprise of three 18-metre high chimneys and eight wells of up to 4 kilometres deep. Construction is set to start in October 2019.
WATER – The drilling of the wells in the construction phase alone would use 100.000 cubic meters of water. Over the years we have already seen the geothermal plant activity around Monte Amiata cause the groundwater level to fall by nearly 200 metres. Moreover, the geothermal basin is directly connected to the groundwater, therefore geothermal gases rising to the surface contaminate drinking water, most significantly arsenic, a highly toxic element.
AIR – The chimneys would constantly emit dangerous fumes such as carbon dioxide, methane, boron, sulphuric acid, ammonia, mercury, thallium and arsenic, all of them affecting our territory. Unfortunately any proposed purification treatment to be installed (the so-called AMIS filters) would block only some of them, and within limits.
CLEAN AND RENEWABLE ENERGY? – Enel would like to reassure us by predicting low quantities of toxic pollutants, however in actuality the nearby power plants in Bagnore (which would be very similar to the plant proposed for the Triana project) are highly polluting. Furthermore, observing the amount of carbon dioxide released, this type of power plant is comparable to fossil fuel power stations. Geothermal energy cannot even be considered a renewable energy source. Since the heat emitted by the wells would be exhausted within a few years, the drilling of new wells would be necessary over and over again.
EARTHQUAKES, LANDSLIDES AND SUBSIDENCE – A number of researchers of the INGV – The National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, have shown a correlation between the exploitation of geothermal energy and seismic activity. It is no coincidence that earthquakes in Tuscany’s metalliferous zones have taken place in areas near to power plants. Flash technology power plants cause a continuous land subsidence with a possible negative impact on roads, bridges and buildings. Moreover, the ground where the proposed power station is to be constructed is classified as subject to landslides. Consequently it could be significantly dangerous to dig deep perforations in this area.
LANDSCAPE AND ENVIRONMENT – The proposed power plant is to be erected in front of the Convent of the Holy Trinity of Selva. The landscape would be completely mutilated as nearly 5 km of pipes would have to be laid across the valley in order to connect Triana to the existing Bagnore plant. Surrounding Triana there are five magnificent nature reserves where the birdlife has already been endangered by existing power plants. This new power station would give the final blow to this beautiful and delicate environment. Biodiversity, our true legacy and a fundamental resource for human life, would be drastically reduced. Monte Amiata and the Alta Maremma boast great and unique natural beauty. Efforts and incentives should be focussed to promote sustainable tourism, instead of destroying our ecosystem and replacing it with an industrial landscape.
WORK AND ECONOMIC BUDGET – Italy’s capacity for energy production is equal to twice its peak energy consumption. Therefore a new power plant would not only be harmful but futile, justified exclusively by ENEL’s financial return which is principally secured by the incentives collected from our electricity bills. The new power plant would offer minimum employment opportunities and compensatory funds for the municipality. Instead a number of jobs currently related to tourism, quality agricultural production and local economy (the latter linked to the numerous foreigners who choose to settle in this area because of its natural beauty), would inevitably disappear. Along with the already inferior value of local property, for both houses and land, which would be further reduced. In some cases so much so that selling property would prove impossible.
EXTENSION – In addition to the construction of a new power plant, the Triana project includes the permission to exploit a large geothermal zone that encompasses as much as 75% of the territory of Roccalbegna, as well as parts of Semproniano, Arcidosso and Santa Fiora. Consequently, within a short period of time we would see the creation of new wells and new power plants in the immediate vicinity of residential areas and protected nature reserves.
Now is the time for us to take action to stop the construction of this or any other power
plant in Roccalbegna. Anyone who has something to say about this project can submit his
or her comments to the Region of Tuscany.
For further information, contacts and subscriptions please write to the Comitato Tutela Territorio Roccalbegna
