Trade union ENBA regrets that the construction of energy parks could harm the agricultural sector

He trade union ENBA asked this Thursday that the new energy installations that are put into use in the Basque Country are on potentially contaminated or artificial land and not on agricultural or forest land. The warning is done Inaki Goenaga And Carlos Ibarrondopresidents of the ENBA of Gipuzkoa and Bizkaia respectively, who published the document “Making the food and energy sovereignty of the Basque Country compatible“.

In this way, ENBA wants “Tap” attention to the promoters of wind or photovoltaic parks, but especially to Basque institutions, so that when determining locations “take into account agrological criteriaand that “you can’t spend much more land if you want food in this country”.

Those responsible for the union have recognized that the projects of new infrastructures for renewable energy generation “They are very importantand they need “a lot of land”, which causes “a big clash” with the natural use of agricultural land. According to him, they exist “a trend“by the companies and institutions that”conquer the best farmland“, to “have the best conditions to generate energy”, to facilitate transportation or simply to “be cheaper”.

In that context, the union has warned against this the economic viability of farms is directly related to the soil and its production, both agricultural and livestock, “depends on him, so it is essential to defend these lands.”

After considering that “food sovereignty and energy sovereignty of Euskal Herria are compatible challengesand verify that both “need land,” prioritizing agricultural and non-agricultural use when looking for a location for energy infrastructures.

According to him, food production must have “the qualification of activity of general interest in the various regulations”, just like energy, and at the time of location choice “economics cannot be the main criterionbecause it would cancel “agricultural land protection included” in the legislation.

ENBA proposes to prioritize the choice of locations for energy parks areas included in the inventory of potentially contaminated soilsto boost their recovery, and those that are already contrived, to prevent more of them, and to promote forest biomass, as it is not only renewable, but would also support the Basque forestry sector.