Portuguese 
English 
Spanish 
5 min of reading 
0 comments 
Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office Investigates Wind Energy Companies in Paraíba After Reports of Illness, Unfair Contracts, and Damages to Rural Residents. Understand the Irregularities, Social and Environmental Impacts, and Concerns About the Expansion of Wind Farms.
The accelerated growth of wind energy in the Brazilian Northeast, especially in Paraíba, paves the way for increasingly urgent discussions about regulation, safety, and socio-environmental responsibility.
And although the sector is seen as a key player in the energy transition, reports from rural residents and accounts of structural damage have led the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office (MPF-PB) to launch a comprehensive investigation into business practices and their impacts on public health.
During an interview on the Arapuan Verdade program on Rádio Arapuan FM, Federal Prosecutor José Godoy detailed a series of irregularities related to the installation of wind towers on rural properties. According to him, the problem, which had already been identified in Pernambuco, is now repeating itself in Paraíba, indicating the urgent need for a review of contracts and the minimum distance between installations and residences.
-
Urgent energy transition: Greenpeace advocates for massive investments and points to Brazil as a global leader in wind energy production in the coming years.
-
Conflict in the Sertão: Rural communities in Rio Grande do Norte report issues with wind farms and the new challenges of clean energy in the semi-arid region.
-
231 turbines of 260 meters at 160 km from the coast, monopiles weighing as much as nine blue whales embedded in the North Sea, and a crane ship taller than the Eiffel Tower: Hornsea 3 will be the largest offshore wind farm on the planet by 2027, and its first components have already arrived in England.
-
International Certification Puts Senai Norte on the Renewable Energy Map and Expands Access to Essential Training for Qualified Wind Power Professionals
Reports of Illness Reignite Alarms About the Proximity of Wind Towers
José Godoy pointedly described cases recorded in Caetés, Pernambuco, where residents fell ill after wind turbines were installed next to their homes. He claims that the same scenario is unfolding in Paraíba.
“In Pernambuco, in the town of Caetés, people got sick because a tower was placed in their backyard. […] 80% have ear problems, 60% have dental issues. The inaudible sound causes the veins in people to tremble,” he reported.
Based on this history, the prosecutor warns that companies responsible for the parks in Paraíba are repeating the same pattern, placing towers about 200 meters from homes—a distance considered insufficient according to international recommendations, which suggest two kilometers.
In addition to health issues, residents report cracks in houses and rainwater tanks, damages that, according to the MPF, were overlooked by the developers.
Land Leasing, Abusive Clauses, and Confidential Contracts: A Scenario of Asymmetry
One of the most critical points revealed by Godoy concerns the contracts offered to landowners. As the prosecutor explains, companies do not purchase the land where they install the towers. Instead, they propose a form of leasing, often presented as advantageous, but which, in practice, guarantees unequal conditions.
According to him, landowners receive only 1% of the revenue generated by the tower, while the companies retain the remaining 99%. Furthermore, contracts with confidentiality clauses prevent residents from consulting specialists or comparing conditions with neighbors.
“The technical knowledge on one side and, on the other side, people who lack knowledge […] has created highly asymmetric contracts,” Godoy emphasizes.
There are also reports that some documents included rights over minerals and carbon credits, making the contracts even more unfair and increasing residents’ feelings of vulnerability.
MPF Develops Fairer Contract and Identifies Clauses on Waiving Health Issues
In light of the series of complaints, the MPF has drafted a “fair contract” template, delivered to communities as a reference for renegotiation. However, during the analysis of the original documents submitted by the companies, the team found a clause considered alarming.
According to Godoy, residents were compelled to waive any future claims related to illnesses caused by noise and other effects of the towers.
“We identified in the contract that they included a clause where the person waived claims regarding illness, including noise. In other words, the company already knew what it was going to cause,” he stated.
This type of practice reinforced the urgency for institutional intervention since hundreds of rural families are exposed to risks without any legal protection.
Structural Damage and Lack of Local Economic Return Aggravate Dissatisfaction
In addition to illness, communities report severe cracks in cisterns and buildings following the installation of the equipment. The prosecutor states that many families have suffered total loss of their structures.
Godoy also highlighted that the local economic impact, promised by companies as compensation, has not materialized in practice:
“After the parks are installed, you don’t generate any economic factor that creates jobs, directly or indirectly, in the region. Because everyone is from outside.”
With highly skilled professionals coming from other states, residents report only suffering damages—without the promised income generation.
Reactions from Public Agencies and Pressure for Regulatory Review
In light of signs of abuse, the MPF has contacted agencies such as Sudema (Superintendency for Environmental Administration of Paraíba) and ANEEL (National Electric Energy Agency). However, according to Godoy, significant institutional barriers still exist.
While Sudema claims to focus solely on environmental issues, ANEEL stated that it has no responsibility for contractual revisions. The agency also did not disclose which companies are foreign, even though this is essential for the application of land legislation in Brazil.
The MPF awaits responses and is preparing an official recommendation, which should be sent next week, demanding changes and greater transparency.
Expansion on the Coast Raises Concerns for Fishermen and Expands Debate on Land Use Planning
Another issue addressed by the prosecutor is the advancement of wind energy projects in the coastal region of Paraíba. Although strategic for the sector, the expansion threatens areas of artisanal fishing and territories traditionally occupied by fishing communities.
“They are now advancing on the coast, and our concern is about the fishermen, their lands, and especially their fishing spots,” the prosecutor warned.
The situation underscores the need for more robust regulation to prevent the energy transition from occurring at the expense of vulnerable groups.
According to Godoy, the MPF-PB already has an extensive set of documents, testimonies, and reports. Therefore, the first official recommendation will be issued soon, initiating the practical phase of accountability and contract review.
“We have a solid body of elements and verified facts. So, the first step […] should be sent next week,” he stated.
Seja o primeiro a reagir!