The parties make a common front to the megaproject of renewables of the Ministry in Castellón

The Valencian political parties showed yesterday their disagreement (although with different degrees of forcefulness) with the implementation of the MAGDA photovoltaic solar park, of 150 MWp, in the interior of Castellón.

Thomas Osborne
Thomas Osborne
13 February 2023 Monday 19:02
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The parties make a common front to the megaproject of renewables of the Ministry in Castellón

The Valencian political parties showed yesterday their disagreement (although with different degrees of forcefulness) with the implementation of the MAGDA photovoltaic solar park, of 150 MWp, in the interior of Castellón. Even the PP showed its reluctance with a project that was not agreed upon with the mayors and farmers of the area and the PSPV wanted to make it clear that it will look for formulas so that "land claims are met."

The approval of the Ministry of Ecological Transition clashes with the reports of the Valencian Government that did not see this great facility with good eyes. In fact, as this newspaper explained, the Valencian government has sent a letter to the ministry headed by Teresa Ribera in which it reproaches the DIA's approval of this megapark that affects the towns of Benlloc and Les Coves de Vinromà.

In that letter, the general director of the Natural Environment, Julio Ramón Gómez, explained to the Ministry that although the locations of the solar park do not directly affect the Natura 2000 Network, "the characteristics of the evacuation line are environmentally unacceptable", hence its unfavorable position to the proposal.

This line runs through the termini of Vilanova d'Alcolea, La Torre d'en Doménec, Vall d'Alba, Vilafamés, Sant Joan de Moró, Borriol, Castelló de la Plana, Almassora, Torreblanca and Alcalà de Xivert. In total, the planned plant will be composed of 258,622 bifacial modules (photovoltaic panels) and the installation will have a production capacity of 150 MWp.

A new clash between administrations that the president of the Generalitat Valenciana, Ximo Puig, had to comment on yesterday during his trip to Berlin to the Fruit Logistica fair. The head of the Consell qualified that he does not have "all the information on this project" and defended that "on this issue one cannot be neutral: either renewables or fossil fuels." However, he added that "decarbonisation is unquestionable", but he claimed to the central Executive that "things must be done properly".

Along these lines, the deputy spokesperson for the PSPV in Les Corts, Carmen Martínez, assured that her formation "will continue working to meet the demands of residents and mayors" and "insisting on the competent ministries" to minimize and honor that request. "We need renewable energy, but it has to be done in conditions in which it does not harm the territory", she defended, hoping that "it is still possible to work so that these demands are met" by the central government.

Harder was the spokesperson for Compromís, Papi Robles, who framed the government's decision in a "blatant" attack on the autonomy of the Valencian government. The Valencian leader indicated that this is not the model of her party or of the Botànic and, without wanting to ask for resignations, she announced that "the Administration will fight so that it does not happen".

For her part, the Unides Podem trustee, Pilar Lima, who has taken the issue to parliament on several occasions, stressed that it is a "huge mistake to ignore the voices" of those affected by the MAGDA photovoltaic macro-project that is going to "devastate the territory".

Even, María José Català (PP) marked distances with an installation that she understands has been done against the criteria of the mayors and without consensus. The popular trustee asked for dialogue and charged against the Botànic for its troubles about renewables.

Vox did not get wet until it had studies on its repercussions and diverted attention by talking about a "climate sect", while Ciudadanos, in the mouth of its spokesperson in the regional parliament, Mamen Peris, lamented the absence of "a common policy" of the Botànic on renewables and a "serious plan" on alternatives after the closure of the Cofrentes nuclear plant.