239
a home in the Canaries, in Europe’s natural observatory in the northern
hemisphere.
A detailed socio–economic study of the repercussions the emplacement of
the E-ELT in La Palma would have on the local environment was commissioned from specialized firms. Their conclusions were dramatic. At a most
conservative estimate, the returns could mean an added value of some
720,000,000 euros for the Canaries and more than 1,100,000,000 euros for
Spain generally. Regarding the impact on employment, 750 full-time jobs
would be generated annually in Spain during the eight years of the construction phase, of which 51 per cent would be located in the Canaries. And during the minimum of 30 years that it was estimated that the super telescope
would be in operation some 700 jobs would be created annually in Spain, 37
per cent of which would be in the Canaries. These figures would be notably
improved if the negotiations with ESO went well.
In economic terms, the overall costs for ESO of the building and operation
of the E-ELT in La Palma, rather than on the inhospitable peaks of the Chilean
desert would be 30–40 per cent lower. The logical advantages of remaining in
Europe, in a fully equipped observatory with developed European communications and infrastructure greatly favoured Spain over Chile. Apparently, it
was not considered opportune to lay that particular ace on the table.
Fig. 22.3 Artist’s impression of the E-ELT (European Extremely Large Telescope) now
being built at Cerro Armazones in the Atacama Desert (Chile). (Credit: Swinburne
Astronomy Products/ESO)
22 The European Extremely Large Telescope…
a home in the Canaries, in Europe’s natural observatory in the northern
hemisphere.
A detailed socio–economic study of the repercussions the emplacement of
the E-ELT in La Palma would have on the local environment was commissioned from specialized firms. Their conclusions were dramatic. At a most
conservative estimate, the returns could mean an added value of some
720,000,000 euros for the Canaries and more than 1,100,000,000 euros for
Spain generally. Regarding the impact on employment, 750 full-time jobs
would be generated annually in Spain during the eight years of the construction phase, of which 51 per cent would be located in the Canaries. And during the minimum of 30 years that it was estimated that the super telescope
would be in operation some 700 jobs would be created annually in Spain, 37
per cent of which would be in the Canaries. These figures would be notably
improved if the negotiations with ESO went well.
In economic terms, the overall costs for ESO of the building and operation
of the E-ELT in La Palma, rather than on the inhospitable peaks of the Chilean
desert would be 30–40 per cent lower. The logical advantages of remaining in
Europe, in a fully equipped observatory with developed European communications and infrastructure greatly favoured Spain over Chile. Apparently, it
was not considered opportune to lay that particular ace on the table.
Fig. 22.3 Artist’s impression of the E-ELT (European Extremely Large Telescope) now
being built at Cerro Armazones in the Atacama Desert (Chile). (Credit: Swinburne
Astronomy Products/ESO)
22 The European Extremely Large Telescope…