The majority of Icelanders are against geothermal energy being harnessed at Bjarnarflag by Lake Mývatn, as indicated in a recent Capacent Gallup survey, made for environmental protection NGO Landvernd.
Mývatn. Photo: Páll Stefánsson/Iceland Review.
Almost 44 percent of respondents were against the plans and 31 percent for, while 25 percent were undecided, Fréttablaðið reports.
Respondents were also asked on their position towards aluminum smelters. More than 51 percent were against further smelters being constructed in Iceland and 31 approved.
Landsvirkjun, the national power company, is planning the construction of a 45-90 MW power plant at Bjarnarflag.
Landsvirkjun has criticized the plans, reasoning that the environmental impact on Mývatn is unknown, stating that the ten-year old EIA for the plant is obsolete.
Landvernd has launched an online petition to have the EIA for the Bjarnarflag power plant repeated. At midday more than 7,500 people had signed the petition.
Related:
11.04.2013 | North Iceland Travel Destination Mývatn Red-listed
15.03.2013 | Environmentalists Want to Halt Operations by Mývatn
ESA
