Nikos Hardalias bans wind turbines in fire-stricken Attica

Attica Regional Governor Nikos Hardalias has declared a firm stance against the installation of wind turbines and industrial renewable energy sources (RES) in protected, reforestable, or fire-stricken areas of Attica. This decision follows devastating wildfires in Western Attica, which destroyed over 111,000 stremmata. Hardalias emphasized that the region's priority is to ensure the natural regeneration of forest ecosystems and that "the forests and mountains that were affected are not 'empty' space on a map."

The Regional Authority plans to implement restoration and prevention projects, such as containment dams, utilizing funds already allocated by the central government through the Green Fund. Hardalias stated that no Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) for wind turbines or industrial RES will be approved in these sensitive zones as long as he is in office.

Additionally, Hardalias has restructured the administrative scheme of the Attica Region. Christos Theodoropoulos has been appointed Vice Governor for Institutions, Transparency, and e-Governance, while Lefteris Kosmopoulos takes over as Vice Governor for Metropolitan Infrastructure and Networks.