The Maestrazgo Society fears a new overhead electricity line crossing it.
The Spanish National Grid (Red Electrica de España) wants to build a overhead electricity line from a new power station in Mezquita de Jarque to a network link in Morella. The preferred path is through a wide stretch of land crossing north/north east Maestrazgo.The National Grid says they would need the line to develop the region and give it new future chance. However most of us in the path of the 400,000 volt line does not like the pylons. Maestrazgo is already home to more wind mills than other regions and we have had enough of pylons, to be frank. Probably, years ago, the low ratio inhabitants per square kilometer has given to the companies/local governments great opportunities to act and lobby. Certainly in the past, Maestrazgo was seen as a place where landscape didn’t matter by the governments.
Maestrazgo currently combines some interesting sustainable projects which rely on tourism as its biggest employer. With regards of this matter taking landscape into account is obviously the issue when considering whether or not to place lines. The company must be holding public exhibitions to explain how it chose the preferred route and how people can respond. All options on how to make connections should be looked at before any decisions are made. We believe the farther the line was routed to the North East corridor, the less impact seems to be. So new location for an overhead line and pylon positions must be undertaken and routing the line away, minimizing the impact on locals, bird populations, wildlife and the new sustainable projects related with tourism.
Ignacio Terés
