Despite national ambitions to become a dominant force in green energy production, residents in Brazil’s northeast are experiencing significant negative impacts on their health and livelihoods due to the expansion of wind farms.
In the municipality of Serra do Mel, located in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Antonio de Souza found his agricultural operations severely restricted. The installation of power lines across his property necessitated the removal of rows of cashew trees, eliminating a key source of income and making crop cultivation impossible in the affected zones.
De Souza also faces safety hazards that prevent the use of heavy machinery during poor weather, as the risk of electric shock remains high. Furthermore, local regulations prohibit cattle from grazing near the overhead cables, dealing another blow to the region’s agricultural economy.
Renewable energy expansion without community consultation is just colonialism with solar panels. The human cost here is being entirely ignored.
I had no idea overhead lines banned cattle grazing near them. That seems like a huge oversight for agricultural communities in the northeast.
It is cruel to sacrifice local farmers for national green metrics. We need policies that protect livelihoods, not just carbon targets.