Approximately 1,000 residents from Ierapetra, Sitia, and Agios Nikolaos gathered Sunday at the Pachia Ammos junction to protest proposed wind energy developments in the mountains of Lassithi, marking one of the largest anti-wind farm demonstrations the region has seen in recent years.
Organized by anti-RES (Renewable Energy Sources) committees from Ierapetra and Sitia, the rally and accompanying concert drew local officials, community representatives, and residents concerned about plans to install multiple industrial-scale wind energy projects across eastern Crete.
Among those attending were Lasithi MP Katerina Spyridaki, regional councilor Eleni Vlassi, and Ierapetra Mayor Manolis Fragoulis, who reiterated the municipality’s opposition to the planned developments. Fragoulis announced that coordination efforts have begun with the Municipality of Sitia and confirmed that legal actions are being prepared in cooperation with municipal authorities and legal advisors.
“We will put our bodies in front and no machine will pass,” the mayor said, emphasizing that authorities and citizens are prepared to pursue every available means of opposition, including mobilizations, legal challenges, and direct action at project sites.
Representatives of the anti-wind farm committees outlined their concerns regarding the scale of the proposed developments and their potential impact on the mountainous landscapes of eastern Crete. Speakers also highlighted a long history of resistance to similar projects in the Sitia region, noting that previous citizen mobilizations had succeeded in altering or delaying development plans.
The demonstration took place just days before the June 17 deadline for public consultation on TERNA Energy’s proposal to develop eight wind farms comprising 24 wind turbines in the municipalities of Sitia and Ierapetra. Organizers encouraged residents to participate in the official consultation process through Greece’s Electronic Environmental Registry, arguing that public engagement remains a critical tool in shaping the future of the region’s natural and cultural landscapes.
As part of the protest, demonstrators briefly closed the national road at Pachia Ammos for approximately 10 minutes. Police were present throughout the event, and no incidents were reported.
The turnout, significantly larger than previous mobilizations, suggests that opposition to large-scale renewable energy developments in Lassithi is continuing to grow as the consultation process nears its conclusion.
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