José Manuel Fernandes said in Vimioso that photovoltaic and wind parks in the region should go ahead without harming agricultural production, putting Portugal’s energy build-out squarely against the land that still feeds the area. He said the projects must be handled with conciliation, and that the land chosen for solar panels should be land with no agricultural aptitude.
The public consultation is already open on the Proposal to Define the Scope of the Environmental Impact Study for the border wind farm in Avelanoso and the photovoltaic parks on the planalto mirandês, which is why the discussion is moving now. Fernandes argued that public interest has to cover food security, energy security and territorial cohesion at the same time, adding that the environment cannot become an enemy of competitiveness or of the region’s balance.
He also left room for technical compromise. In some cases, he said, that balance may be possible if panels are not placed close to the ground and can be mounted higher. He urged entities, civic platforms and associations to set out their positions, saying the projects should not simply be installed but should also leave revenue and other returns for the territory.
That line did not settle the concern in Vimioso. António Santos said he still does not have a clear idea of the benefits and the harms, and wants more clarifications from the entities responsible for the projects before taking the matter to the Assembleia Municipal in September for a non-binding opinion. He said the parish council presidents initially seemed interested, but after the first explanations asked for more information, and the mood may not be as favorable as it first appeared.
The clash is now less about whether Portugal needs renewable energy than about where it can be placed without squeezing out farming. Fernandes is pressing for a deal that protects food production and brings value back to the territory. Santos is asking for the facts first. By September, the local assembly will have to decide whether the projects are being shaped by that balance or by assumption.
