The mayor of Güímar has opposed the construction of the El Pilón wind farms in Agache.

The mayor of Güímar, Carmen Luisa Castro, along with her team, has stated that she will not allow the construction of the El Pilón I and El Pilón II wind farms in the Agache area. This was announced during a meeting with representatives of the Ecomarca platform, which took place yesterday evening.

"They assured us that they fully support our position and are against the construction of these wind farms," said Ecomarca spokesperson, Hiurma Rodríguez.

The mayor also confirmed her refusal: "I don't want us to be like Arico. I am against these wind farms, I want a hydroelectric plant."

The Ecomarca platform, which is involved in nature protection in southeastern Tenerife, explained to the city authorities that the construction of wind farms would harm the natural and cultural heritage of Malpaís de Güímar, the Agache area, and the Herques ravine, which are part of the Natura 2000 conservation network. In addition, it will violate building regulations and environmental standards, lead to serious problems for nature, change the landscape, and noise and light pollution will harm people's health. Also, instead of building new wind farms, it is necessary to modernize the existing ones.

Activists from Ecomarca asked the Güímar City Council to help organize information days for residents. During these events, experts will talk about the unique nature of the region and how the construction of wind farms can harm it. The same request will be sent to the Fasnia City Council to hold these days together.

The Ecomarca platform is still awaiting a response to its objections to the construction. They hope that these measures will help people learn more about the problem and protect the nature of southeastern Tenerife.

The meeting yesterday was attended by five representatives of Ecomarca, the mayor of Güímar, Carmen Luisa Castro, and councilors Francisco del Rosario, Carlos Llárena, José Miguel Hernández, and Socorro González.

The mayor offered to mediate between Ecomarca and the Government of the Canary Islands. She wants to convey to President Fernando Clavijo and the Minister of Ecology, Mariano J. Zapata, the arguments why she is against the construction of wind farms in Agache.

Carmen Luisa Castro assured that they have never supported the construction of wind farms. She noted that at the meeting on April 21, they voted against a report, the content of which they did not fully know, and they were not given the opportunity to express their objections.

The mayor emphasized: "We want clean energy, but not at this price." Castro does not want Güímar to be like Arico, where wind and solar power plants are being built everywhere.

Carmen Luisa Castro explained that the final decision on the construction of wind farms is not made by the City Council. She added that Güímar lost the opportunity to express its position on this project, unlike Fasnia, which clearly stated its disagreement at the City Council meeting.

The company DISA Energía Renovable, SLU plans to build the El Pilón I (with a capacity of 15 megawatts and four wind turbines) and El Pilón II (with a capacity of 8.5 megawatts and two wind turbines) wind farms. They will be located on 181 plots in Fasnia and Güímar. To transmit electricity, it is planned to install 24 towers to the slope of Güímar, and then the cable will be laid underground to the substation in the Valle de Güímar industrial area. The total cost of the project is estimated at 22.3 million euros (14.3 million in El Pilón I and 8 million in El Pilón II).