Residents of Santa Maria file objections against a new lithium battery project in the municipality

PalmFriends of the Coanegra Valley, a member of the 'Renewables Yes, But Not Like This' platform, has filed its objections to the installation of the 'Laurea BESS III ENERGY' industrial power plant planned for the municipality of Santa Maria. Among other issues, they detail that it is a business "completely disconnected from the energy needs of the surrounding area," since, in their opinion, the sole purpose of the project is profit. Likewise, the association points out that no local civic entity or public administration has been consulted or heard in order to decide on the least socially and environmentally damaging location.

"It's a type of facility that carries many environmental risks and also risks to people's health during normal operation, but in the event of a fire, it can't be extinguished with water. Local and regional emergency teams have not been informed, trained, or provided with the necessary technical resources to handle the situation in case of smoke," said Guillem Ramis, spokesperson for the association.

This is also reflected in the objections presented this Tuesday, which point out the visual impact of the planned battery plant on rural land, as well as the light pollution from nighttime security lighting. Furthermore, they indicate that the area where the facility is planned "has high ecological value and its construction will affect the agricultural landscape between Consell and Santa Maria." They also reiterate that the battery plant is not part of any territorial planning, which they have urgently demanded to regulate the proliferation of energy infrastructure throughout the region.

For all these reasons, the association has requested that the project's authorization be denied and that "the protection of the territory be strengthened against speculation and the proliferation of lithium plants without territorial planning or public interest."