22 environmental organizations demand the revocation of permits for 15 wind farms in the Acarnanian Mountains.

22 environmental organizations demand the revocation of permits for 15 wind farms in the Acarnanian Mountains.
10 April 2025

A One-Way Path to Protect the Critical Habitat of the Griffon Vulture — and the Integrity of Energy Communities

A joint letter [1] was sent to the authorities and agencies involved in the licensing of the 15 wind farms (WPPs) in the Acarnanian Mountains by 22 environmental organizations [2], requesting the revocation of all permits issued to date. This request is based on information revealed last week, showing that although the WPPs are presented as “Energy Community” (ECOIN) projects — and have benefited from favorable legal treatment — they are, in fact, managed and controlled by a large Cypriot company.

The letter outlines the permitting history of the 15 projects and raises the following legal concerns: First, the law prohibits individuals or legal entities from participating in more than one ECOIN with the same scope in the same region. However, the Cypriot company AIMS32 CORPORATION LIMITED participates in 7 of them through companies in which it is the sole partner. Second, since the Boards of Directors of the 7 ECOINs (which are the legal holders of the 15 WPPs) are fully controlled by one single company, all 15 WPPs form a large, unified project under centralized management. Therefore, the environmental impact should be reassessed as a Category A1 project (major impact), rather than 15 separate smaller Category B projects, as was initially done.

The organizations also emphasize the broader political issue raised by this case, calling on the authorities to take a stance: Can it be acceptable for ECOINs to be used as vehicles for corporate manipulation and to circumvent the proper licensing process, ultimately resulting in situations that contradict the principles and philosophy behind the founding legislation of Energy Communities?

The 22 organizations argue that revoking the permits is essential in order to:

  • Protect the critical habitat of the griffon vulture,

  • Ensure proper implementation of the renewable energy project licensing laws,

  • Properly assess the cumulative environmental impacts of all planned projects,

  • Safeguard the credibility of the Energy Community institution,

  • And maintain fair competition in the renewable energy sector.

Given all this, they consider revocation to be the only responsible path for the authorities — assuming they have even the basic reflexes to cancel these unfair practices. These specific projects have already been definitively deemed unacceptable and harmful, not only by the organizations but by the environmental movement as a whole.

[1] The letter from the 22 organizations is available on the website of the Hellenic Ornithological Society, where the responses from the addressed agencies will also be posted.

[2] The 22 organizations (alphabetically):
Alkyoni – Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Association,
ALKYON – Federation of Ecological Organizations of the Corinthian Gulf,
ANIMA – Wildlife Protection and Rehabilitation Association,
ARION – Research Center for the Rescue and Rehabilitation of Marine Mammals,
ARCHELON,
Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature (HSPN),
Hellenic Ornithological Society,
Thracian Biodiversity Protection Society,
Prespa Protection Society,
CALLISTO,
Ecological Recycling Society,
PANDOIKO – Panhellenic Network of Ecological Organizations,
Pindos Environmental,
Naxos Wildlife Protection Society,
Tulipa Goulimyi Society,
Friends of Nature Greece,
Greenpeace,
iSEA,
MEDASSET,
MedINA – Mediterranean Institute for Nature and Anthropos,
The Green Tank,
WWF Greece