Renewable acceleration zones threaten critical areas

The Renewable Energy Acceleration Zones Plan identifies 455,000 hectares nationwide as priority areas for new solar and wind projects, with simplified licensing procedures.

Several of the identified zones overlap with areas classified as priority for conservation, mainly in the Algarve, the Alentejo and Northeast Trás-os-Montes, generating strong local opposition.

Plataforma Nordeste Vivo, made up of 25 people from Northeast Trás-os-Montes, opposes the accelerated industrialization of the territory, asking for areas of higher ecological value to be excluded from the final plan.