The political party Esquerra Unida has registered an initiative in the Congress of Deputies to request information about the mega solar projects 'La Balsa' and 'La Cascada', promoted by Chopo Desarrollos España S.L. in the La Horna area. These installations affect the municipal terms of Aspe, Novelda, and Monforte del Cid.
The request, presented through the Plurinational Sumar Parliamentary Group, includes 66 written questions to the Government and 23 documentation requests. Esquerra Unida considers that the scope of these installations transcends the municipal sphere and impacts the entire Medio Vinalopó region, affecting the territory, agricultural landscape, watercourses, road network, and energy infrastructures.
The parliamentary questions aim to detail the processing status of the files, the completeness of the documentation for the Environmental Impact Assessment, pending sectoral reports, responses to allegations presented, and urbanistic compatibility. Clarification is also sought regarding the impact on non-developable land, the effect on vineyard landscapes, reports from the Júcar Hydrographic Confederation, aeronautical servitudes, and economic and dismantling guarantees.
In addition to the questions, Sumar has requested full access to the administrative files, allegations from individuals and entities, urbanistic reports from the affected town councils, and documentation from the General Structural Plan of Novelda. Information is also requested on parcel matrices, landscape reports, ecological corridors, shared electrical evacuation, the promoter company's solvency, and dismantling forecasts.
A key point of debate is the electrical evacuation infrastructure, as the 'La Balsa' and 'La Cascada' projects share infrastructure with the SET Colectora Agost and SET El Cantalar substations, and are linked to the 'El Horizonte' project. Therefore, Esquerra Unida advocates for a coordinated evaluation of the projects.
The party reiterates its favorable stance towards renewable energies but criticizes the implementation model of large photovoltaic plants that, in its opinion, can compromise agricultural land and territorial balance. They advocate for a publicly planned energy transition with citizen participation and environmental guarantees.
