On a farm in southern Spain, Francisco Campos fears the green ocean, a century-old olive tree that he fears facing an axe to make room for the proposed solar park.
The 64-year-old farmer told AFP that it is a whitewashed building, Lopera, in the sunny southern part of Andalusia, Spain, which is a whitewashed building in Lopera.
Spain is the world’s highest producer of olive oil, but fertile agricultural land that olive producers have long used is currently in high demand, hoping to install solar farms.
With nearly 3,000 hours of sunshine each year, Andalusia is one of the most solar panels in the Spanish region, and as a renewable energy boom, the country makes the country a leader in the field of green energy in Europe.
Renewable energy companies such as Greenalia and FRV Arroyadas have asked for permission to build multiple solar farms near Lopera, which farmers say will affect up to 1,000 hectares (2,500 acres).
Businesses negotiated a deal to lease most of the land needed for their projects, but encountered significant opposition from hundreds of small landowners.
This prompted the Andalusian regional government to announce that it would expropriate the land needed for certain plants and declare them in the “public interest”.
“Is it a public good for companies that bring my land to companies to make profits? It’s not good for us,” Campos said.
“Our way of life will be destroyed,” he added.
– “From our ancestors” –
Campaigners predict that eight solar projects planned in the region will need to clear nearly 100,000 olive trees.
Regional governments have greatly reduced the number to 13,000.
Local residents expect power companies to seek to install solar panels in the area, but they never imagined “they would come and take your property away,” said Rafael Alcala, a platform spokesman representing rivals to the solar plant.
In support of landowners affected by the latest round of expropriation, dozens of farmers on the tractor were on the tractor (some with signs of “we don’t want sun plants”” in recent mornings.
“These lands come from our ancestors. What do I want to leave for the children now?” Maria Josefa Palomo, 67, a pensioner, said during the protest.
Losing 500 hectares of olive trees will eliminate more than 2 million euros ($2.3 million) in annual revenue, according to local olive oil cooperative La Loperana.
The campaigners said 5,000 olive trees have been uprooted from the land of a farmer in Lopela, who signed an agreement with a company behind the solar park. It may follow.
To stop these projects, opponents have filed lawsuits against regional governments and related companies.
– “Until the end” –
According to grid operator Red Electrica, Spain generated a record 56.8% of electricity from renewable energy sources such as wind and solar last year.
Spain utilizes rivers in sunny plains, windy hillsides and fast-flowing rivers to increase the share of renewable energy electricity to 81% by 2030, part of an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Regional governments defended renewable energy projects, saying they used less than one hundred of the land in the region and had to be taken out from reluctant landowners.
Spanish solar industry group Unef, which represents more than 800 companies, said the projects promote tax revenue in rural communities.
Unef Head Jose Donoso said they generated “a lot” that could be used to improve public services.
Lopera’s solar park rival disagreed and vowed to continue fighting.
“Until the end. No one will take everything from us,” said Juan Cantera, a 28-year-old farmer.
“Olive oil is everything about Lopela”.
RS/DS/IMM/GV/TYM
