The installation of a new thermoelectric plant in the Federal District, just 35 kilometers from the National Congress, represents a step backwards by opting for the most polluting form of energy generation, says IPAM (Amazon Environmental Research Institute). The project violates current demands for cleaner energy generation and represents a violation of the history of the federal capital which, since its conception, was planned to be a model of cleanliness and modernity.
If approved, the water of the Melchior River, drained to supply the plant, and the air of the Brazilian capital, contaminated by the smoke generated, will be sacrificed in exchange for minimal benefits for energy production in the city.
“Expensive and highly polluting, thermoelectric plants follow an outdated model of energy production. If Brasília’s growth requires greater investment in electricity generation, this funding should be directed towards renewable, sustainable and environmentally responsible technologies,” says André Guimarães, executive director of IPAM.
The installation of the plant would also represent a major setback for the quality of life of the population of Samambaia, the administrative region that would receive the project. The city, home to more than 232,000 people, would suffer from even more polluted air and high temperatures due to the operation of the thermoelectric plant.
“As the capital of Brazil, the Federal District occupies a strategic position to lead national efforts to expand renewable energies and replace unsustainable production models. In order to honor its commitments to democracy and modernity, the city must abandon the most polluting alternative for energy generation once and for all,” says Guimarães.