Environmental groups Friends of Sierra Escalona (ASE) and Friends of the Wetlands of South Alicante (AHSA) have appealed the authorisation of the La Juliana solar plant in Almoradí, citing its detrimental environmental and landscape impact.
The plant, authorised by the Generalitat with a budget of over €12 million, would span nearly 60 hectares of agricultural land near the Hoyo Serrano forest and the Calderón ravine, with more than 55,000 solar panels.
KEY CONCERNS:
Environmental and Landscape Damage:
The project disrupts the agroforestry mosaic of the area, leading to biodiversity loss and reduced landscape quality.
Land movements for construction (80,000 cubic metres) risk soil erosion and desertification.
Increased Fire Risks:
The plant’s proximity to forest areas could heighten fire risks, which environmentalists argue were inadequately assessed.
Cumulative Impact with Nearby Plants:
The appeal criticizes the lack of cumulative environmental impact studies involving three other nearby solar plants (FV Pedrera, FV Serrata, and PFV Abanilla), which together affect a total of 90 hectares.
Alternative Locations Ignored:
Environmentalists propose installing solar panels on rooftops in the Las Maromas industrial area, just 2.2 kilometres away, as a sustainable alternative that avoids impacting valuable agricultural land.
ASE and AHSA are urging a review of the project to properly assess its environmental implications and prevent potential project fragmentation, which could bypass comprehensive impact evaluations.
