Pollença rises up against the lithium battery project due to its environmental and social impact

PollençaThe Pollença Town Council, municipal political groups, neighborhood associations, environmental groups, and private citizens have submitted a flood of objections—some 8,000—with technical, legal, and social arguments that categorically reject the "Jilguero ST1" project. It has been a long time since a project has generated such unanimous opposition, which warns of the "environmental, economic, and public health risks" that, according to various sectors of Pollença society, this initiative entails. The "Jilguero ST1" project, with a capacity of 10 MW and 40 MWh, proposes the installation of a lithium-ion battery energy storage plant in Polygon 3 of Pollença, on partially floodable common rural land near waterways and areas of high ecological value. The initiative, promoted by Atlántica Energía Sostenible España SLU, is being processed as a strategic industrial project, but it has generated widespread debate among neighborhoods, municipal groups, and environmental organizations due to its location, environmental risks, and potential economic and social impacts.

Since the publication in the BOIB (Official Gazette of the Balearic Islands) of the opening of the public information process, the public reaction has been immediate and forceful. Residents and local entities have begun organizing, collecting signatures and submitting technical and legal objections on November 12th to defend the community and the territory. So far, more than 8,000 signatures have been collected, combining support gathered primarily in person and online, a clear indicator of the social concern the project has aroused.

Mayor Martí March warns about the risks and questions its legality

The mayor of Pollença, Martí March, has warned that the project could be null and void from a legal and political standpoint. He emphasized that the procedure has not followed the proper regulations and that the risk assessment is insufficient. "There are technical objections that question its location and legal procedure. The environmental impact, water risks, and effects on human health, flora, and fauna have not been taken into account," March explained. The mayor stressed that the location on rural land constitutes an inappropriate use of the territory and that the plant should be located within the industrial park, where the activity would be compatible with land use regulations and coherent territorial planning. March recalled that the City Council has issued a statement of its political position, supported by the majority of municipal groups, expressing political, technical, and social rejection of the project. He also insisted that the Consell and the Govern must carry out a study and territorial planning that guarantees the safety and sustainability of the municipality and prevents the inappropriate use of rural land.

Municipal unity in rejecting the project

The municipal groups PSIB/PSOE, Més per Pollença, Partido Popular, and Unió Mollera Pollencina have signed a joint statement expressing their clear rejection of the project. They argue that its location on rural land and in flood-prone areas is incompatible with the land's uses and that the project has not been included in any comprehensive territorial planning. They emphasize the lack of consultation with the City Council and the need to include citizen participation in any decision affecting the municipality. Furthermore, they stress that the risks associated with the storage facility, such as fires, water and noise pollution, as well as the effects on flora and fauna, have not been adequately assessed. The municipal groups warn that any incident could have direct consequences for the local economy, especially key sectors such as tourism, agriculture, and fishing, and underscore the need to protect both public health and the landscape and natural environment of Pollença. This common position demonstrates political and technical unity that reinforces the public rejection of the project.

Although Todos por Pollença has not signed the political statement, its spokesperson, Tomeu Ochogavia, emphasized that the group supports the residents and shares their concerns about the safety and impact of the project, criticizing the lack of prior debate on more compelling objections.

Neighborhood participation and claims from local entities

Citizen mobilization in Pollença has been strong and well-organized, demonstrating the involvement of neighborhoods, economic sectors, and environmental groups in defending the area. The platform of affected residents has spearheaded much of this response, submitting detailed objections supported by expert industrial and environmental reports and with the advice of a lawyer specializing in environmental and energy law. The submitted documents rigorously analyze the risks the project could generate, particularly regarding safety, aquifer contamination, the impact on flora and fauna, and the alteration of the landscape. The platform has collected 6,500 signatures on paper and approximately 1,800 online, a figure that reflects the widespread concern among residents and their desire to make their voices heard and present a united front. The Pollença Fishermen's Association has submitted its own objections, warning that any spill of chemical substances could end up in the streams and, ultimately, in the sea, with irreversible consequences for the marine ecosystem and local fishing, a key sector for the municipality's economy. The fishermen emphasize that environmental safety is not only an ecological issue, but also a guarantee for the continuity of traditional economic activities. The Pollença Hotel Association and the Pollença Port Residents' Association have also submitted objections, highlighting the need to protect the quality of life of residents and the municipality's tourist image. Representatives of the hotel sector have stressed that the presence of this infrastructure, with its associated risks, could negatively affect the perception of safety and tranquility among tourists, a fundamental pillar of the local economy.

For its part, Arrels Marines has denounced the fact that the project has only considered plots of rural land, when it should be located on industrial land according to regulatory and territorial planning criteria. The organization has pointed out the lack of environmental safety plans, habitat and species protection plans, as well as the absence of adequate mitigation measures for neighborhoods and the landscape. According to Arrels Marines, the initiative responds more to private and economic interests than to a planned energy transition objective, and it warns of the risk of setting a precedent for the scattered industrialization of rural land.

The GOB provides an environmental perspective

The GOB (Balearic Ornithological Group) has submitted objections, arguing that the project does not meet the requirements to be considered of strategic industrial interest, as it does not generate stable employment nor is it integrated into the regional energy plan. The group warned of the risks of flooding, fire, and chemical contamination, as well as the impact on more than 140 documented species, the agricultural landscape, and the traditional scenery of Pollença. However, their involvement remains within a broader context in which municipal groups and local associations are leading the mobilization and debate.

Widespread rejection and citizen mobilization

The City Council, municipal groups, neighborhood associations, and environmental groups agree on the need to reject the current location of the plant and demand that any future energy storage project be relocated to industrial land, with a comprehensive impact assessment and genuine citizen participation. The mobilization, with over 8,000 signatures, demonstrates the massive public rejection that accompanies the technical and political arguments. Martí March insisted that "this project cannot move forward without a rigorous study and coherent territorial planning. The rejection is political, technical, and social, and it cannot be ignored."