Environmental pressure group Friends of the Earth yesterday called on the government to assess other possible sites for wind farms, in case the earmarked Sikka l-Bajda failed its Environmental Impact Assessment.

It said other areas, both offshore and onshore, should be assessed as backup sites.

In a statement, FoE praised the government for finally taking the initiative to invest in renewable energy by developing wind turbines to supply around four per cent of the country's energy requirements.

FoE also said it was pleased the government was no longer considering deep offshore wind farms, which were still expensive and in an experimental phase.

It said more needed to be done to develop clean and renewable energy within the home. Small-scale wind turbines and solar panels should be encouraged and given importance, through economic incentives.

While many Maltese families are ready to invest in a cleaner future, the government is not offering the appropriate incentives, FoE said.