Electrical power station again

[news item September 2008]

Rumours abound as to where the new electrical power station, replacing the existing obsolete and highly polluting one at Mytilene Old Harbour, will be located. Considered sites include Mageiras near the mouth of the Gulf of Geras, Sarakina about 5 km from Mandamados and Plakes on the coast between Nifida and Agios Fokas. Despite considerable financial inducements (including free electricity) local communities have rejected all of these. They are right to do so. In all cases the environmental costs are high, entailing not only the destruction of wild and beautiful parts of the Island but also the construction of new power lines from the new site to the consumers and some horrendous traffic problems during the construction. We reiterate the conclusions of our previous study of the issue:

	A small and efficient energy plant should only be constructed in the context of a sustainable energy plan for Lesbos
	The only site where there would be an unequivocal benefit for all would be close to or at  the site of the existing energy plant

The people of Mytilene would benefit from reduced pollution and nobody would suffer from new environmental destruction