The government has responded to strong local reaction in Crete against the country’s offshore windfarm development plan off Elounda, northeastern Crete, by proposing a smaller area that would host units with a maximum capacity of 400 MW, 57 percent less than the original plan’s capacity; remove a section of the plot facing the islet Spinalonga, in the Gulf of Elounda; and ensure visual disturbances for hotels are eliminated.

These proposed revisions, concerning the Elounda offshore area, one of ten areas included in an initial 2-GW plan for offshore wind farm development around Greece, were tabled by energy minister Thodoris Skylakakis at a meeting Friday involving representatives of EDEYEP, the Hellenic Hydrocarbons and Energy Resources Management Company, local officials, including the mayors of Agios Nikolaos and Sitia, as well as regional hoteliers.

It remains to be seen if the energy ministry’s proposed revisions will be enough to ease the concerns of local officials, hoteliers and residents and quell any further reaction.

The energy minister has lined up an imminent follow-up meeting with mayors and regional authorities. He is expected to offer a more extensive briefing on the potential benefits of offshore wind farm development to local communities at this follow-up meeting.