After six months of controversy and even an announcement of a referendum, that was then given up on, Novi Vinodolski Municipality Council members raised hands for wind generators, Rijeka-based Novi list newspaper’s portal reported. Key were three councillors from the Croatian People’s Party – Liberal Democrats (HNS) who at the previous session were opposed to the spatial plan paving the way to build wind parks, and get investments of up to EUR 1.1 billion in energy from renewable sources. The investor had threatened to pull out, the paper said.
The location of Zebar is planned for a EUR 40 million wind facility, and Kavranica for EUR 50 million. Solar power plants of Lučac and Mahavica (pictured) are worth EUR 40 million in all. Greatest investment in the pipeline is for a reversible hydropower plant – EUR 987 million, Novi list said.
The turnaround occurred just before the session, as the local self-government accepted HNS-s proposition to use the first income from the wind power plants for six projects the party marked as having great significance for the municipality. Namely, the plan is now to build three children’s playgrounds, to consider buying a former factory complex, reconstruct a town’s center, build a sports centre, introduce a LED public lighting system on the whole territory and pave neglected roads.
Municipality head Ivica Crnić said the wind projects still needed an environmental impact study before a concession bid can be started.
