Windmills in Campos area to provide electricity

Jaume Matas, the minister of the environment, yesterday signed an agreement under which 100 windmills in Campos will be restored and used to generate electricity. The cost of the project is in the region of seven million euros. Matas, a former leader of the Balearics, signed the agreement with the Campos town council, the gas and electricity company Gesa-Endesa, the Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving, the Natural Parks Foundation and a local cooperative. The agreement was signed after the unveiling of the first of ten windmills restored as an experimental project, which has cost 600'000 euros. Matas explained that the project is unique in that it will recover part of the cultural heritage, allow the effective use of a renewable energy and will boost the income of the farmers who own the windmills, as the electricity will be purchased by Gesa-Endesa. The farmers can expect to receive about 690 euros a year each. The Campos council has also improved the gardens and area surrounding the newly-opened windmill which can produce 10'000 to 12'000 kilowatts an hour, the average consumption of three Majorcan rural houses. The plan to convert the 100 windmills will take nearly two years to complete and may later be extended to windmills in the other parts of the island, traditionally used for extracting water or grinding grain. The project may be eligible for European funding, Matas said.