About fifty people gathered this Saturday midday in front of the Generalitat headquarters in Girona to protest against large-scale energy projects planned in the region. Among the projects highlighted are PLEMCAT, the offshore wind testing platform in the Gulf of Roses, and PLATER, the Generalitat's plan to regulate the deployment of onshore wind and photovoltaic energy in Catalonia. The groups argue that this model could favor large infrastructures with impacts on landscape, biodiversity, and agricultural land. They also reject the Júlia photovoltaic plant, planned between Cornellà del Terri, Vilademuls, Sant Jordi Desvalls, and Cervià de Ter.
The spokesperson for SOS Costa Brava, Eduard de Ribot, explained that they were demonstrating to "defend the territory, the sea, agricultural land, and biodiversity" and to "denounce a new speculative wave that Catalonia is suffering, called energy transition." The entities supporting the protest, such as Empordà Dempeus, Unió de Pagesos, and Revolta Pagesa, are calling for a just, planned, and citizen-participated energy transition, criticizing a model based on large infrastructures with negative impacts.
The groups clarified that they are not against renewable energies, but against projects carried out "without listening to the territory." They emphasized that these projects originate from previous mandates and stated they will continue to mobilize and submit objections to prevent their award.
The mobilization, under the slogan "Renewables yes, but not like this," included a performance art piece with a participant dressed as a "rich entrepreneur," a wind turbine model built by the protesters, and two tractors. Additionally, solar panels were hung on the facade of the Generalitat building as a protest, accompanied by various signs.
