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Renewable Energy is not Always Environmentally Friendly. Who Will Protect It?

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Image Source: Prysmian Group – Geothermal Energy Article

The benefits of geothermal energy in our daily lives make us wonder, “What is geothermal energy?” It is often underestimated and only its benefits are exploited. Behind the image of “environmentally friendly energy” that has been attached to it, there are several dark sides to geothermal energy projects. We can explore how the clearing of land for geothermal raw material extraction can harm local communities, such as the loss of clean water, the destruction of natural potential, and the damage to natural ecosystems. Furthermore, there is an increasing number of large-scale drilling activities. Drilling activities and changes in land use, which were previously utilized by the community, are now being destroyed because the ecological function of the land has been transformed into an industrial area, posing a risk of displacing the natural ecosystem, which is difficult to restore.

These massive drilling activities actually carry many risks that must be addressed. In general, the public often ignores these risks due to the lack of information provided to them. One of the indicators of the impact of geothermal energy is the public’s lack of understanding of the issue. This is highly dependent on how we respond to nature and how nature affects humans. In fact, they are the ones most affected, because they also suffer losses due to the decision to develop geothermal land, which only benefits the developers while neglecting the safety and comfort of the surrounding community.

In the Baturaden area, Banyumas Regency, Tegal Regency, Brebes Regency, Purbalingga Regency, and Pemalang Regency, Central Java Province has also been designated for geothermal land clearing. In fact, Baturaden is close to Mount Slamet, which is a protected forest area. We know that protected forest areas have the main functions of regulating the water system, preventing flooding, controlling erosion, preventing seawater intrusion, and maintaining fertility. This is exacerbated by the impact of geothermal land clearing by geothermal land managers. In addition, geothermal project exploration has caused many problems, one of which is the turbidity of the Prukut River, a major water source used by seven villages on the slopes of Mount Slamet. This turbidity is caused by boron, a chemical element that is harmful to human health and is naturally present in geothermal work areas. Boron is an important element for plants in small amounts, but in large amounts it becomes toxic.

The Turbidity of the Prukut River Due to Geothermal Exploration in Banyumas, Central Java. | L Darmawan/Mongabay Indonesia

It is impossible for us, FamilIIAAS and society, to just stand by and watch and wait for the next turn. There are several issues and insights that we can gather as much as possible, starting from gathering information from various reliable sources related to the opening of new geothermal land and the impacts it causes. FamilIIAAS must know how to read research and understand detailed environmental issue assessment reports, not only knowing the impacts caused by the opening of the land, but also fighting ignorance. There are also several steps to find solutions and implement them. This can be done by encouraging the government and land developers to apply strict environmental impact assessments and involve the community in every stage of development, which is also an important key. FamilIAAS can also do this by not only relying on policies, but also on collective awareness. When FamilIAAS and the community are critical, active, and brave in voicing their opinions, it can be a great opportunity to maintain the balance between development and environmental sustainability. FamilIAAS can make sustainable changes, starting with concern and small steps that are taken together.

Author: Yosua Latreia

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