The Consell opens the process for the special plans, the projects and the impact studies all at the same time.

The Conselleria de Infraestructuras (the Valencian Region Ministry of Infrastructures) has put on public display the proposals for the Zone 14 Wind Power Plan, which envisages the construction of 3 windfarms with 50 wind turbines in the sierras of El Comtat and part of the Marina Alta. The process in which the public are permitted to examine the plans has been opened simultaneously for the special plans for the windfarms, the preliminary construction projects for these installations and the environmental impact studies. The period of 30 days for filing objections started yesterday (17 June), when notice of public access was published in the Official Journal of the Valencian Community.

According to the Consell’s order, the villages affected by this phase of the plan are the following: Castell de Castells, Benillup, Fageca, Famorca, Almudaina, Benimassot, Gorga, Millena, Planes, Balones, Quatretondeta and Tollos. The company that is to develop these projects is «Vent, Sol i Energía S.A.».

With the opening of this period of public scrutiny, the Consell is embarking on a new phase of the Wind Power Plan in the region. Zone 15 is also under way: it affects the districts of Banyeres, Onil and Castalla, and also the municipal districts of the Vinalopó, including the villages of Petrer and Canyada.

It should be remembered that this initiative was overwhelmingly rejected by the public, with more than 6,000 objections being filed, in which the serious environmental impact of wind turbines was much criticised. Many of the villages in Zone 14 have also expressed their opposition to the Wind Power Plan and have held a number of meetings to organise a joint strategy for opposing it.

Last Wednesday a meeting was held in Benimassot at which officials from the Conselleria de Infraestructuras and the company that is to construct the windfarms explained to local councils and the public in general the characteristics of these projects. At the same time, as this newspaper has already reported, those present were told that the municipal districts affected will receive economic compensation. According to the mayoress of Quatretondeta, Magda Beneyto, «many of those present expressed their opposition to this plan, because of its serious impact on the landscape and because it compromises the future of rural tourism in these areas».

Source: Diario Información [Spanish]

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