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A wind farm in the works in Central Panama has raised questions from two environmental groups, the Panama Audubon Society and the Centro de Indicencia Ambiental (CIAM). Criticizing the environmental impact statement put out by the Autoidad Nacional del Ambiente (ANAM) the environmental groups note that logging of primary forest (deforestation) would be necessary for the wind farm towers and connecting roads. Also ANAM’s study seems to be of a different area that in the wind farm builder’s plans. ANAM says it is discussing these issues with the Panama environmental groups.

As a rule those concerned with the environment are happy to see investment in wind farms generating electricity in Panama and elsewhere. Wind farms save on fossil fuels and do not produce greenhouse gases. Wind farms make investment in the best “renewable” energy source, the wind.

So, why are the Panama Audubon Society and the Centro de Indicencia Ambiental (CIAM). Criticizing the environmental impact statement put out by the Autoidad Nacional del Ambiente (ANAM)?

According to a report in La Prensa, Panama, September 30, 2008, ANAM may have studied the wrong area for starters. According to La Prensa, “The environmental groups are opposed to the Cerro Cabeza de Toro location [where the developer of the wind farm wants to build] because the area is primarily forested, which means that significant logging and deforestation will have to take place for the project to be carried out.

“According to the environmental impact study, the company will require about 25 square kilometers for the project's infrastructure, which consists, among other things, of the construction of a road between each of the 40 wind turbine towers. Audubon officials said that a 2003 study by the United Nations recommended that Cerro Tute would be the best location for a wind farm from an environmental standpoint.”

Santa Fe Energy who is developing the wind farm states that the ANAM statement has been done on the correct location and that they, Santa Fe, are clarifying the maps.

“Santa Fe President Roberto Moreno denied that the project would be located at Cerro Cabeza de Toro, and said the actual site is the same as the ones listed in the study, Cerro Tute and Cerro Delgadito.

“We're doing some more detailed drawings to clarify any doubts about the location,” he said. The company has a concession of 2,780 hectares granted by the Autoridad Nacional de los Servicios Públicos to develop a wind [farm] project, according to Moreno. In addition, the [wind farm] project is expected to be included on a list being compiled by Anam for companies to receive carbon credits for generating clean energy.

“However, the environmental groups argue that a clean energy project that results in deforestation is just as damaging as a project that causes air pollution.”