Aranese institutions believe the PLATER's processing has disregarded the institutional and competential singularity of the Aran Valley. They denounce that the plan's development process did not guarantee effective participation from Aran, despite its determinations directly impacting the territorial, environmental, and energy planning of the Valley.
The objection points out that the PLATER fails to consider the physical, climatic, and operational limitations characterizing the Aran Valley, such as its orography, steep slopes, mountain climate conditions, access difficulties, and electrical connection limitations, making the territory unsuitable for the massive deployment of wind and photovoltaic parks.
Furthermore, it criticizes the PLATER for ignoring key planning and protection instruments like the Partial Territorial Plan of Alt Pirineu i Aran, the Urban Planning Master Plan of the Aran Valley, and the Landscape Catalogue of Alt Pirineu i Aran, as well as the declaration of the Aran Valley as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. These instruments establish a territorial model based on the preservation of landscape and environmental values, incompatible with the widespread implementation of such infrastructure.
The document suggests that the PLATER's proposed model places a disproportionate burden on rural and mountain territories, prioritizing implementation on non-artificialized land over utilizing already transformed spaces. The Conselh Generau d'Aran and the Town Councils advocate for the energy transition to prioritize the use of artificialized spaces and technologies suitable for each territory.
The Síndica of Aran, Maria Vergés, highlighted the territorial institutional unity in the face of a project crucial for Aran's future. She stated that Aran is committed to the energy transition and renewable energies, evidenced by actions in forest management, biomass, geothermal energy, and hydraulic production, but criticized the PLATER for ignoring the territory's reality and energy potential, as well as Aran's singularity and competential scope.
Vergés emphasized that the Aran Valley is not opposed to renewable energies or the energy transition and shares the goals of decarbonization and combating climate change. As a high mountain territory, it is a potential victim of global warming and, as a Biosphere Reserve, has publicly committed to leading a sustainable development strategy in the Pyrenees.
