The Ribagorza region is threatened by the installation of another large photovoltaic power plant.
They are projected 86,000 photovoltaic solar panels on 110 hectares and a highway of high voltage towers of 70 meters “to send solar energy out of Aragon and with it our future,” says the Platform ‘Ribagorza is not sold’. The deadline for submitting allegations ends this Friday, February 23. While in the Aragonese Parliament the sessions of the Commission of Inquiry on the uncontrolled deployment of renewable energy plants throughout the Aragonese territory, wind and photovoltaic -and we will see what happens with hydrogen-, the machinery of the extractive economy does not stop. And now it seems to be Ribagorza’s turn. Our country already produces 200 MW (megawatts) with renewables, and production is projected to quadruple in the medium term according to data handled by Red Eléctrica itself. In addition, Aragon currently generates almost twice the amount of electricity consumed, with surpluses that have more than doubled in the last four years. The sale of this surplus only means profits for the energy companies, leaving in our regions the scar of their facilities, the deterioration of protected natural habitats and the frustration of unfulfilled promises by companies and public administrations. For years, the DGA has seemed to work more as a commercial agent for the energy companies than as a defender of the citizens who have voted for it to take care of common issues and the welfare of all. And, with the changeover from the PP to the PSOE in the Government of Aragon, little or nothing has changed. The most prudent voices have long been calling for a moratorium to bring order to the wild development of these new industries and the slogan renewables yes, but not like this, is already part of the history of social struggles in defense of the land and the Aragonese claims for a decent future. But extractivist capitalism advances without any doubts, without questioning its effects, without asking the people of the territory, in its scorched earth policy, as long as there is a euro to gain and whatever it costs.
“Big capital cynically promotes the so-called energy transition.”
The Unitary Platform against the Monzón-Isona Electric Motorway had been “warning about it for some time, so we do not consider it a surprise at all, but now, thanks to the great work done in recent days by the comrades of the newly created platform ‘Ribagorza No se Vende’, we have the irrefutable proof that much of our region and, in particular, the municipalities of Graus (especially the area bordering Capella and Torres del Obispo-Pueyo de Marguillén) and Benabarre are under the sights of big capital that promote the cynically called energy transition”.
“If this is the first, others will follow.”
On February 14, 2024 the Platform ‘La Ribagorza No se Vende’ was created with the aim of stopping the project Avejaruco Solar SL “which aims to cover 110 hectares between the municipalities of La Puebla de Castro and Secastilla, an area equivalent to 130 soccer fields. This involves a highway of high voltage towers of 70 meters whose purpose is to send solar energy out of Aragon and with it our future”.
“The macro project is called the ‘49.984 MW Avejaruco Solar PV Plant’ project, and is proposed by Avejaruco Solar SL in file G-H-2023-018. The installation involves more than 85,000 photovoltaic modules, 13 transformation centers, 1 high voltage substation and the installation of 19 high voltage towers along with almost 4 km of high voltage subway line,” the Platform explains.
They also explain that “the private company presenting this macro project in La Puebla de Castro and Secastilla proposes other alternative municipalities in the vicinity, such as Capella, Graus, Torres del Obispo, Puyarruego, Hoz, Costean, El Grado, Cregenzán, and Burceat: Capella, Graus, Torres del Obispo, Puyarruego, Hoz, Costean, El Grado, Cregenzán, and Burceat”.
Urgent: the deadline for allegations is February 23rd
“It is urgent!”, emphasize from the Platform ‘La Ribagorza No se Vende’, as they report that “we have only until February 23, to submit allegations, associations or individuals, to the affected municipalities as they will do the paperwork. And that is this coming Friday”. They emphasize from the Platform that “the allegations that we present are to show the rejection of this project for the damage it will cause to the primary sector, tourism, environment and public health, as well as our natural environments, flora and fauna of the entire region of Ribagorza, in violation of current legislation in the environmental and urban planning”.
“Deceptive tactics being used by energy companies.”
On the other hand, from the ‘Plataforma Ribagorza No se Vende’ warn about “the deceptive tactics being used by private companies that present these projects”, and highlight three:
- They present projects to small municipalities, and in different time frames, to finally cover large extensions (it will end up being all of Ribagorza) thus hiding the valuation of the real damage to the environment, economy and population affected under the argument of “public interest”, a very questionable concept.
- They are private companies, “Sociedad Limitada” with the minimum capital, that once the land rental contracts are signed, they disappear and sell their rights to other companies, and so on. Thus, they fail to comply with their commitment to remove and recycle the solar panels at the end of their useful life (20-30 years) and all the installations that go with them, leaving these millionaire expenses to be paid by the owner. As if that were not enough, the land leased to these companies becomes industrially zoned, which increases the property tax payable by the owner.
- Many owners of the project plots and through which the high voltage line runs reject the project without being warned that their refusal may result in expropriation, paying a pittance for this land and in some cases, limiting their livelihood.
Source:
https://arainfo.org/la-ribagorza-amenazada-la-instalacion-otra-macrocentral-fotovoltaica/
