Associació de Municipis MAT and IAEDEN

Evaluation of the MAT Project

by
Josep C. Vergés
M.A. (Hon.) Econ. Cantab., Ph.D. Barcino

Girona
June 2008

Index

Chapter 1: The European Priority Electricity Interconnection Project
Sentmenat (ES) – Bescanó (ES) –Baixàs (FR)					  5
1.1 Electricity Projects of European Interest					  5
1.2 The Preliminary Report of the European Coordinator			  7
1.3 The Precautionary Principle and UCTE					  9
1.4 Underutilised Interconnections and Unrenovated Lines			 10
1.5 Efficient Non-Transmission Alternatives					 12
1.6 Conclusions on the European Priority Electricity Interconnection 
Project Sentmenat (ES) – Bescanó (ES) –Baixàs (FR)				 13

Chapter 2: The Public Hearings in France					 15
2.1 Public Demonstrations and Public Concerns					 15
2.2 The Public Debate in French Catalonia					 15
2.3 The CESI Alternatives								 22
2.4 The Precautionary Principle in Underground Options			 27
2.5 Conclusions on the Public Hearings in France				 34

Chapter 3: The European Priority Project in Spain				 38
3.1 The Same Public Demonstrations and Public Concerns			 38
3.2 European Discrimination							 40
3.3 The Spanish Monopoly's Bypass						 43
3.4 Conclusions on the European Priority Project in Spain			 50

Chapter 4: The Partial REE Project						 54
4.1. The Girona Bottleneck								 54
4.2 The Sentmenat-Bescanó Section						 63
4.3 The Affected Parties								 68
4.4 The Rest of the REE Fragmentation						 74
4.5 Unresolved Conflicts of the New Line						 83
4.6 Conclusions on the Partial REE Project					 90

Chapter 5: Official Admissions of Lies, Irregularities and Illegalities		102 
5.1 The Non à la THT Question 							104
5.2 The NO A LA MAT Questions							104
5.3 Top Down Breaking of the Law						117
5.4 Conclusions on the Official Admissions of Lies, Irregularities and
Illegalities										129 

Chapter 6: Corporatism and the Rule of Law					140
6.1 Democratisation of Public Projects						140
6.2 The New Economics of Undergrounding					143
6.3 Conclusions on the Evaluation of the MAT Project				146
6.4. Executive Summary								169

Bibliography										173

Tables

1.1 European Energy and Network Policy						  6
1.2 Electrical Interconnections with Spain						 11
1.3 HVT Lines in Spain									 12

2.1 Cost of the CESI Alternatives								 24
2.2 Subjective Choices by CESI								 25
2.3 Cost per km of the CESI Alternatives							 26
2.4 Cost Benefit Criteria for Underground 400 kV Cables				 30
2.5 Sea Cables in Operation and Spanish Plan						 31
2.6 East Coast Sea Cable									 32
2.7 Sea Cable Budgets									 33
2.8 Sea Cable and Capital Costs								 33
2.9 Cost Comparisons in France and the U.K.						 36

3.1 Area Affected in the Sentmenat-Bescanó Section of the European Project	 49

4.1 Overloads Predicted in Girona								 56
4.2 Demand Prediction in Girona								 59
4.3 Inadmissible Overloads in the Endesa Girona Network Despite 
      the New Interconnection								 59
4.4 Inadmissible Overloads in the Endesa Girona Network Without
      the New Interconnectio									 61
4.5 Subjective Evaluation of Alternative Crossings of the Pyrenees			 83
4.6 Volcanic Structures Affected								 85
4.7 Spanish Domestic Electricity Prices							 87
4.8 Spanish Industrial Electricity Prices							 87
4.9 International Trade in GWh in 2006							 88

5.1 Spanish Electricity Exports and Imports						110
5.2 Complaints Against the Sentmenat-Bescanó Section					114
5.3 Expropriation Prices for the Riudarenes Substation in 2008			128

6.1 Fivefold Efficiency Gains in the Cost of Undergrounding				145
6.2 Cost Comparisons of a 400 kV Overhead Line and Underground Cable		145
6.3 Identical Total Costs for a 400 kV Overhead Line and Underground Cable	145
6.4 Comparative Cost of Undergrounding a 380 kV Line				146

	

	"Although originally the definition of the entire Interconnection was Sentmenat-	Bescanó-Baixàs, delays in this single infrastructure due to disagreements over the 	frontier crossover led to the petition by the central and regional governments 	(Generalitat de Catalunya) to go ahead separately with the sections Sentmenat-	Bescanó, Bescanó-Santa Llogaia, and Santa Llogaia-French frontier."

	REE written reply to the European Coordinator, April 2008

For comments contact josepcverges@larepublicacatalana.cat

Chapter 1: The European Priority Electricity Interconnection Project Sentmenat (ES) – Bescanó (ES) –Baixàs (FR)

1.1 Electricity Projects of European Interest

The TEN-E Guidelines of 24th July 2006 of the European Council are the policy instrument to establish the effective operation of the European market by reinforcing the security of energy supply linking national markets. The stated objectives for better service quality, wider choice and competitive prices are:

	1) Sustainability.
	
	2) Competitiveness.

	3) Security of supply.

The Guidelines foresee the appointment of a European Coordinator which, as shown in the map of Electricity Projects of European Interest and accompanying table, is responsible for the transmission line

Sentmenat (ES) – Bescanó (ES) –Baixàs (FR).

The Priority Interconnection Plan designates a European coordinator for electricity for:

	"Connection between France and Spain, 
especially Sentmenat (ES)- Bescanó (ES) –Baixàs (FR) line."

The 1st Ten-E Information Day, 30th March 2007, confirms that the electricity project of European interest is the Sentmentat-Bescanó-Baixàs line as reproduced in table 1.1 from the European Commission map. It also states that, because of headlined Structural Problems, a European Coordinator has been appointed specifically for:

"The connection between France and Spain, 
especially Sentmenat (ES) – Bescanó (ES)- Baixàs line."

Table 1.1 European Energy and Network Policy

Source: European Commission

The Commission of the European Communities lists four shortcomings in the Priority Interconnection Plan:

1) Renewable energy resources need to be integrated and infrastructure projects must be compatible with environmental considerations. There are significant bottlenecks in the development of green sources of energy and a lack of integration of wind power which "produces large flows through the neighbouring transmission systems, increasingly affecting system stability." In addition green electricity is not adequately financed while there is an increasing need for the integration of green electricity.

2) Structural difficulties of projects due to public opposition which makes sea routes preferable to land lines, even if costlier. In particular "visual impact is often of major concern for local populations."

3) Lack of competition and pricing policies are hindering the correct development of projects: "Vertically integrated companies unwilling to increase existing supply that might be to the detriment of their supply affiliates. Similarly inappropriately regulated supply tariffs recalculated on a short term basis have allegedly hindered the development of priority infrastructure...Current market design does not create incentives for efficient transmission investment. Inappropriate regional pricing models unduly mask intra-regional transmission congestion or do not provide access to accurate and timely information about the performance of transmission networks."

4) Power lines are more difficult to build, time-wise, than developing green power: "Building a new connection may in some cases take more than ten years whereas the construction of a wind farm or a combined cycle gas turbine is between two and three years."

In particular the Commission identifies three reasons for the delay in the Sentmenat (ES) - Bescanó (ES) – Baixàs (FR) line with an authorisation horizon of 2009:

	1) Crossing the Pyrenees.

2) Difficulty in defining cross-border points between Spain and France.

3) Opposition of local population.

The Commission admits new power lines are not the solution, rather infrastructure that "has to be planned, built and operated for the consumers it will serve...This task is not simply about building more interconnection...It is also about the future energy mix in the EU, about the operation of the system with a larger quota of intermittent generation as well as about the geographical location of generation sites. Transparency on short and long-term congestion network paths is essential." And TSOs, Transmission System Operators, must take "due regard to socio-economic and environmental considerations." 

The independent commission composed of all electricity actors, CREG, comments that the projects in the TEN-E Guidelines are not based on sound technical and economic arguments, do not study the alternative of new generation, have no independent validation and simple indicators are unavailable to compare and choose between projects:

	1) "Interconnection should be based on sound technical and economic reasons."

2) "Electrical transmission investment decisions should result from comprehensive studies comparing new electrical transmission investments with the development of new generation projects."

3) Without independent studies "it is difficult to establish the adequateness of these projects."

4) "Simple indicators are difficult to establish. They should result from technical-economic studies."

1.2 The Preliminary Report of the European Coordinator

In his Preliminary Report on the EL3 European Interest Project European Coordinator Mario Monti confirms that he was appointed on 12th September 2007 "more specifically for the interconnection between France and Spain Sentmenat (ES) – Bescanó (ES) – Baixàs (FR) as defined in Annex 1 of Decision 1364/2006/CE." His brief, in a project which "faces objective difficulties, is to find as far as possible an equilibrium after hearing all interested parties."

The original project of 1996 was for an interconnection through the central Pyrenees between Aragon and Pyrenees Atlantiques but a decision was taken to reroute to the current RTE/REE 2001 project "without identifying the exact situation of the interconnection." French public hearings with "practically the entire political representation at local and national level of the Pyrenees Orientales" has led to shelving the project in France. But in Spain REE, with no public hearings, has gone ahead between Sentmenat and Bescanó, with opposition from the local population and its representatives. There is still no route to cross the Pyrenees.

Mario Monti criticises that no common project exists for this European interconnection, rather "two projects, coordinated it is true, but which have been kept wide apart. This strategy does not permit an overall vision." The project has faced and continues to face opposition in both France and Spain because several essential aspects have not been resolved satisfactorily:

	1) The need for the project has not been proven.

	2) No long term vision.

3) Deep concern on the environmental and economic impacts.

4) People in Catalonia question the lack of consultation.

Mario Monti admits that proving the need for the project is the key question. Communication has not been good or adequately coordinated. The interest in the project is less in France than in Spain. 

The European Coordinator has asked for quantifiable data. Projects cannot be carried out nowadays if they do not take into account local needs. Technology has evolved significantly, making alternatives possible which could not have been considered previously. He concludes:

"Before taking any decision, especially on the route, I believe it essential to provide a clear answer on the following questions:

1) Does reinforcing the already existing line Vic-Baixàs constitute an alternative?

2) Are there technical alternatives today which can be paid for? In particular an underground cable.

3) What compensation is needed to make the project acceptable? In particular generating income for the affected areas which do not obtain a direct benefit from the project."

The absence of clear common answers is a major factor in the current situation of blockade of the project. The project has not been sufficiently analysed. Mario Monti proposes a tax on energy exchanges to be spent on the local and regional communities affected to provide incentives for renewable energy in order to recreate a climate of confidence among all parties.   

1.3 The Precautionary Principle and UCTE

The Union for the Coordination of Transmission of Electricity (UCTE), of which both the Spanish transmission monopoly REE and its French counterpart RTE are members, recognises that electricity transmission is in a process of fundamental and profound change, and in a learning process. This means that the Precautionary Principle outlined by the European Union should be paramount because of the profound market uncertainties, as the UCTE admits in its commentary to the TEN-E Guidelines: international transmission lines do not guarantee competition or reliability and make blackouts more likely; all interested parties should be taken into account and a consensus found; and there is no adequate information for taking the right decision because of the absence of comparable indicators between countries.

The Preamble of the UCTE Articles of Association states that the objectives of the 24 members are the secure operation of the European interconnected electrical system, but currently there is a process of fundamental change, with many further changes expected while the development of the electricity market is in a learning process. UCTE comments on the revision of the TEN-E Guidelines:

1) Transmission lines do not guarantee a competitive market: "Merchant lines alone do not represent a solution for an effective functioning of the market."

2) Local monopolies lead to incompatibilities and unreliability: "In the long run the optimization of the different stakeholders...could lead to incoherent system development, system incompatibilities and market distortions. Reduction of reliability and operation security could be the ultimate consequence."

3) Regions are not correctly defined: "Regions as defined in the EC Strategy Paper are partly overlapping and their borders should not be seen so strictly."

4) Reliability is not the result of new long distance transmission lines: "First priority for setting up new infrastructure is maintaining the reliability of the grid on both national and international level. However this should not lead to a dramatic increase in long distance and bulk power transmissions (bold type in the original text by UCTE).

5) New generation is much more important: "Proper incentives (e.g. locational signals) for building of generation facilities in appropriate areas appear to be a crucial point and challenge for future development (bold type in the original text by UCTE).

6) All interests must be taken into account without a rush to judgement: "Aiming at a high supply security at optimal economic and ecological conditions...face the challenge of balancing of the conflicting interests and have to proceed with the necessary foresight and perception."

7) Growing blackout risk from interconnection in Europe: "Increasing flows and their growing unpredictability lead to a situation in which blackouts cannot be ruled out for Europe."

8) Dialogue and consensus on infrastructure projects: "TSOs (Transmission Systems Operators) are promoting the dialogue with local stakeholders to achieve consensus on infrastructure projects."

9) The right information for a correct decision is not available: No consolidated quantitative evaluation for non-delivered MWh has been published. Instead only qualitative information...Unfortunately consistency and comparability of such information is poor."

10) Lack of comparative statistics: "Energy infrastructure differs a lot from country to country...Indicators would provide us with similarities and/or differences...A real message resulting from this comparison would have to be analysed very carefully to avoid misunderstandings and confusions."

These ten points from the European transmission operators themselves underline that the Precautionary Principle must be paramount for the Sentmenat-Bescanó-Baixàs European Project. 

1.4 Underutilised Interconnections and Unrenovated Lines

The Barcelona European Council meeting in March 2002 agreed to a level of electricity interconnections of at least 10%. According to REE with a peak demand of 43,400 MW in the winter of 2006-2007, Spain had an import capacity of 6% or 2.600 MW. Interconnections with Portugal will increase by 2.100 MW providing for an import capacity of 11%, so that Spain already fulfils the 10% European Union rule without the French interconnection.
 
The current level of trade between Spain and its neighbours, Morocco, Portugal, Andorra and France, is shown on Table 1.2. Only one third of Spain's international trade in electricity was undertaken with France with a current surplus capacity on existing lines of over 60%. The Sentmenat-Bescanó-Baixàs Project will double this capacity so that at current exchanges, and with the main planned consumer, the high speed rail link TGV/AVE delayed at least five years, the level of utilisation could be as low as 18% of capacity. Given this excess capacity in electricity interconnections with France with extremely low utilisation rates, it is hard to justify the need for the new project on economic lines nor its European priority. Indeed at the levels of current and mid-term use, without European subsidies to the REE/RTE local monopolies, the new project would never be built. 

Table 1.2 Electrical Interconnections with Spain

2005
Country	Traded Electricity 
GWh	Current Capacity MW	Thermal Limit
MW	New Capacity
MW	Extra Thermal Limit 
MW	

Morocco1	
2,026	
400	
1,460	
		
Portugal 	12,283	2,088	5,678	400	3,650	
France2	8,033	1,592	4,071	620	4,890	

Total traded	
22,342	
4,080	
11,209	
1,020	
8,540	

Notes: (1) 2006. (2) Includes Andorra.
Source: Elaborated from Eurelectric 2007.

The other cross-border exchanges are not very encouraging either. Despite the grandiosely named Mercado Ibérico de Electricidad created in 2001 exchanges with Portugal are one third of capacity and will fall down to 22% once the current expansion of lines is completed. With Morocco the utilisation rate is 27%. REE partner in the Sentmenat-Bescanó-Baixàs line, French transmission monopoly RTE is interested in promoting in the long term with this interconnection a "boucle mediterránéene" with the Magrib, but Morocco is more concerned with the short term reinforcement of transmission links with Algeria and Tunisia for securisation and better economic use of common electrical resources.

The European electricity trade representative Eurelectric in its latest report of 2007 underlines that the Sentmenat-Bescanó-Baixàs line may never be built because of:

	"high difficulty due to opposition." 

Apart from the economic argument of low trade and overcapacity in current interconnections, there is thus the additional argument of the strong opposition of the affected parties. 

One of the alternatives being explored by European Coordinator Mario Monti is to bury the new line. The REE transmission monopoly is extremely backward in renewing the whole system. Only 16 kms, out of a network of 16,845 kms of 400 KV lines, are underground. This is a ratio of 0,0009% for underground cables. Of the new expansions under construction another 14 kms are planned underground. As shown in table 1.3, 99% of the total network, including 220 kV lines, are overhead lines, both current and planned.

Table 1.3: HVT Lines in Spain

kms 2005
Lines	Overhead	Underground	Total	

400 kV 
Existing	

16,829	

16	

16,845	
Planned	5,482	14	5,496	
Total	22,311	30	22,341	
220 kV
Existing	
16,344	
114	
16,458	
Planned	2,774	270	3,044	
Total	19,118	384	19,502	
400 + 220 kV Total	41,429	414	41,843	

Source: Elaborated from Eurelectric 2007.

1.5 Efficient Non-Transmission Alternatives

The Conservation Law Foundation has compared the expansion of transmission capacity in Vermont with cost efficient alternatives from a cost-benefit study by the local utility VELCO:

"Increased investment in efficiency and building clean, small-scale generation would be less expensive and more reliable than constructing a 5th major transmission corridor. VELCO confirmed it would cost less while resulting in nearly $600 million in greater social benefits mostly from avoided power costs. In fact VELCO found that a targeted energy efficiency program could eliminate the need for the proposed 345 kV line and lower electric bills. Conclusion: efficiency is good for business. Investment in local generation would improve reliability, eliminate costly transmission losses and keep Vermont's energy dollars at home."

The arguments for efficient non-transmission alternatives are therefore:

1) Local monopolies do not pay the investment in new transmission lines because of subsidies of up to 95% of their cost.

2) Conservation reduces the strain on the system.

3) Small-scale generation increases energy independence and lowers energy costs.

New transmission lines on the other hand, which in America was also preceded by a power blackout in the north-east in 2003, would make the system more fragile while non-transmission alternatives are more efficient:

	1) A centralised power grid increases dependence on fossil fuels and nuclear power.

2) Decentralisation promotes renewable energy, conservation and clean generation like combined heat and power systems, small scale wind, photovoltaics and fuel cells in compliance with Kyoto.

3) Reducing peak demand increases reliability and lowers electricity costs. The cost of saving power is half that of what the utility pays buying electricity for peak loads at the wholesale market.

4) Utilities should be required to prove that any new transmission expansion is the lowest cost solution compared to improvements in efficiency and expanded use of local power.

The Conservation Law Foundation in particular criticises the failure to evaluate non-transmission alternatives because of planning bias in favour of new transmission lines and strong institutional resistance against local generation and efficiency.

1.6 Conclusions on the European Priority Electricity Interconnection Project Sentmenat (ES) – Bescanó (ES) –Baixàs (FR)

The Barcelona European Council meeting in March 2002 agreed to a level of electricity interconnections of at least 10%. Spain has an import capacity of 6% but increased interconnections with Portugal will double this to 11% so that Spain already fulfils the 10% European Union rule without the French interconnection.

The following conclusions can be expressed from the examination of the published statements by the European Union, European electricity trade representatives and independent electricity bodies on both sides of the Atlantic:

1) The Spanish transmission monopoly REE has started work on the Sentmenat-Bescanó section before a decision has been taken by Europe on the entire project Sentmenat (ES) – Bescanó (ES) –Baixàs (FR).

2) Europe insists that the public must be taken into account which has not happened in Spanish Catalonia.

3) REE/RTE have not proven the need for the project.

4) Efficient non-transmission alternatives exist which should be taken into account before a new transmission line is built.

The arguments behind these four conclusions are:

1) Extension of the European project: According to the European Council, the Commission of the European Communities, Trans-European Networks and the European Coordinator Mario Monti, the electricity project of European interest extends between Sentmenat (ES) – Bescanó (ES) –Baixàs (FR). The Sentmenat-Bescanó section therefore is a full part of the European project.

2) Europe takes public opposition into account: Public opposition to the project is recognised by the Commission of the European Communities, by the European Coordinator and by European electricity trade representative Eurelectricity. The Commission admits the exact route of the line is not yet defined. The European Coordinator adds that the need for the project is not proven and consultation, required by European and now Spanish law, has not taken place in Spanish Catalonia. He wants answers to the alternatives of reinforcing the existing Vic-Baixàs 400 kV line or laying an underground cable, as well as the compensation of affected communities, especially with renewable energy. It should be pointed out that REE should have as a priority the renovation of its 42,000 kms of 220 and 400 kV lines, 99% overhead. An underground line Sentmenat (ES) – Bescanó (ES) –Baixàs (FR) would induce the overall technological modernisation of the fragile Spanish distribution system with Barcelona suffering a severe blackout in 2006, probably induced by the high speed train AVE trials. Barcelona is beyond the scope of the European Interconnection while there is a serious lack of investment in transmission system renovation by the transmission and distribution monopolies in Spanish Catalonia.

3) The need for the project is not proven: The current interconnections with France have an excess capacity of 60%, which will increase to over 80% infra-use with the new line since the main planned consumer, high speed rail link TGV/AVE, is at least five years delayed with a seriously contested route through Barcelona. Furthermore trade mouthpiece UCTE, of which both REE and French counterpart RTE are members, admit new transmission lines do not increase competition, the stated European objective, because local monopolies distort investments creating supply insecurity. UCTE stresses in bold type that long distance lines, such as this project, are not a solution, rather new generation. It also underlines that all interests must be taken into account and a dialogue established, something Europe is now belatedly doing through the European Coordinator. UCTE warns interconnections increase blackout risks. The right information does not exist for a correct decision and comparative statistics do not exist. The independent commission CREG confirms this and proposes that new interconnections must be decided on sound economic and technical arguments after comprehensive studies based on reliable indicators, none of which is the case with this rushed project.

4) Efficient non-transmission alternatives: Efficient non-transmission alternatives have not been taken into account according to the Commission of the European Communities, like renewable energy, while oligopolistic behaviour distorts prices and supply impeding efficient transmission investment. Green power takes far shorter to come on line, three times less than new transmission. American experience confirms that locally generated green electricity and greater efficiency, like reducing peak loads, eliminate the need for new lines, saving 50% of costs while this greater reliability diminishes the risk of blackouts, another European Union worry. Planning bias in favour of transmission lines is compounded by the lack of institutional interest in promoting efficiency and local generation. New transmission lines should be required to prove they cost less than efficiency measures and investment in local generation. 

The European Union should not proceed with the European Priority Electricity Interconnection Project Sentmenat (ES) – Bescanó (ES) –Baixàs (FR) as presently planned in application of the Precautionary Principle.

Chapter 2: The Public Hearings in France

2.1 Public Demonstrations and Public Concerns

The European Priority Electricity Interconnection Project Sentmenat (ES) – Bescanó (ES) –Baixàs (FR) has had a hard reception in Catalonia on both sides of the Pyrenees. France held public hearings in 2003, but five years later the local populations had not come to accept the European project. They are more opposed than ever with the biggest demonstration held in an hundred years in Perpinyà (Perpignan), and, as politically significant in such a top down project "with an absolute predominance of Catalan flags and posters in Catalan." The same has happened in Spain as we shall see in the following chapter. The spokesman for No a la THT Laurent Delmas warned:

"We will not give up nor give in. The HVT is unjust, harmful and an insult to modern times and will not pass."

Catalans south of the border were also present in a large contingent with president of No a la MAT Paulí Fernández pointing out that the Catalan government was split on the issue: 

"You cannot see the beginning or the end of the demonstration. Obviously part of the Catalan government is against. They should say what they will do if they win (the coming elections) with this infrastructure, whether they will give the go ahead."

Spanish Catalonia has a large degree of autonomy and the two centralist parties in Madrid rarely have an absolute majority to impose a top down infrastructure against the will of the Catalans so the possibility of political deadlock for the project in Catalonia is likely as Le Nouvel Observateur points out: 

"A large Spanish delegation took part in the demonstration, including Joan Puigcercós, interior minister of Catalonia and parliamentarian of Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya."

The Paris paper pointed out that local politicians from French Catalonia, including those of the governing party, were also massively present:

"The four UMP mayoral parliamentarians surrounded the mayor-senator of Perpignan 	Jean-Paul Alduy behind the banner 'All elected representatives of the Pyrénées Orientales against HVT.' The elected representatives of the Conseil Général headed by president Christian Bousquin (PS) filed past behind the banner 'The Department against HVT.' The majority of demonstrators oppose what they see as a commercial project of the liberalised energy market which downgrades the countryside and environment of the Department, putting the population living along the line at risk. All along the demonstration the slogan in Catalan 'No a la Mat' (No to HVT) was heard. Equally prevalent were numerous slogans in Catalan like "Prou mentides, no a la MAT (No more lies, no to HVT)' or 'No a la MAT ni aquí ni enlloc' (No to HVT, here or anywhere)."
 
Local newspaper L'Indépendant points out the message will be heard loud and clear in Paris, Barcelona and Madrid:

"The key objective was to take a stand and make a statement in Perpignan, Paris, Barcelona and as far as Madrid. The truth is they succeeded. The lesson to be learnt could not be clearer: Catalans, both north and south, continue to be deeply concerned and strongly mobilised. As J.J. Planes of Collectif THT said: 'What I will retain most clearly of this day will be first that people responded, and the will to preserve the environment and renewable energies as the best alternatives to HVT.'"

L'Indépendant also outlined criticism of the Catalan government for not raising its voice in Europe:

"Unfortunately we see that the Catalan government washes its hands stating it is a European matter they can do nothing about."

Earlier the presidents of Spain and France had made a formal declaration admitting environmental matters had to be taken into account and that there was strong opposition from the local populations, promising their concerns would be taken into account:

1) "Any large project today must be carried out taking into account its environmental impact. A sustainable and harmonious development requires conciliation of energy and environmental concerns."

2) "Spain and France congratulate Mario Monti for the work he has carried out quickly pinpointing the local difficulties connected with the project. His report highlights:

-the extent of incomprehension for a project whose need is questioned by several local actors.

-the need to have a long term vision together with the local population.

-the great preoccupation for the environmental and economic impact of such a project as well as for countryside preservation."

3) "Both governments undertake to determine before 30 June 2008, based on the guidelines provided by Mario Monti the best technical, economic and environmental compromise for this line while taking into account the expectations of the local populations."

4) "REE and RTE will extend their current studies to formulate a series of possible technical solutions. These studies will be carried out with greater transparency and local agreement providing answers to the worries of the local populations identified by Mario Monti."

5) "These studies must include as a priority an analysis of the viability and cost of a solution which takes the line partially underground."

The public hearings were judged successful but did not lead to the centrally planned outcome. The public concerns and the public demonstrations show that the public hearings in France have given voice to the local populations which Paris and Madrid together now promise to take into account.

2.2 The Public Debate in French Catalonia

The Commission nationale du débat public CNDP decided in 2002 to hold a public debate on the new HVT line France-Spain. Hearings were held in French Catalonia during 2003 headed by a six member board with a landscaper, an industrial planner, an energy economist, an agronomist wine expert and an administrative judge who had presided the public debate on the HVT line Boutre-Carros in Provence. The scope was limited to the French side of the interconnection. The minutes portray the political, security and efficiency concerns:

1) Political concerns: A political decision had been taken without considering technical questions and shortcutting administrative procedures. The new project is a direct result of French transmission monopoly RTE abandoning in 1995 the Cazaril-Biescas interconnection through the Louron Valley in the central Pyrenees which had all the permits to go ahead. France has paid Spain 1996-2004 an indemnity of 96 million euros as compensation. An alternative to the new project would be reinforcing existing interconnections through the Pyrenees to share out more equally the impact of high voltage overhead lines. The European transmission association UCTE in a 1992 study showed there was no need for a new line through the Eastern Pyrenees, choosing instead the mid Pyrenees option which was later abandoned, obviously for lack of demand.

2) Security concerns: The new line does not provide greater security of supply. Spain has ample security margins with its current set-up as the French transmission monopoly RTE admits: 

"En termes de securité…l'écart de production de l'hydraulique espagnole peut atteindre 8.000 MW, très supérieur au niveau de 10% qui s'éléve a 5.500 MW. De même la puissance éolienne installée en Espagne est de 4.000 MW, qu'il faut pouvoir relever en quelques heures." 

The new line will be permanently underutilised because of over planning for security according to the board minutes: 

"Est-ce que pour autant les normes de sécurité imposées par l'UCTE pour les lignes d'interconnexion ne sont pas surabondantes et ne conduisent pas à des équipements sous-utilisées? On passe d'un capacité physique actuelle de 3.000 MW à une capacité en securitée de 1.400 MW. Ceci conduit à des lignes d'interconnexion chargées en régime courant à seulement 30 à 40% de leur capacité."

3) Efficiency concerns: There are more efficient alternatives, in technical and economic terms, than the present project:

a) Reconstruction of the existing Vic-Baixàs 400 kV line which is outdated: "Cette ligne à déjà été renforcée pour passer de 1.100 a 1.400 MW. Il s'agit de pylônes anciens."

b) High voltage lines lose 2.5-3% in transmission, paid in France by a 0.04-0.05 euro/KWh surcharge mortgaging the line over 40 years. Taking these losses into account a decentralised system is preferable favouring solar and wind power against high cost, high risk nuclear energy.

c) Building new generation close to consumers is cheaper than long distance lines. Spain plans 5.000 MW over five years for combined cycle plants, increasing to 16,000 MW in the long run. However there is considerable misplanning by not building in Catalonia where consumption grows fastest.

d) Underground lines and other routes are discussed in the next section with the CESI study of 12 alternatives commissioned by the public debate.

e) The high speed train does not require the new line as is also shown by the CESI study in the next section.

The widespread opposition to the new line in the Roussillon is expressed in concrete worries on negative socio-environmental, health and cumulative factors: 

1) Socio-environmental impact: "Tout paysage est en même temps le support et l'emblème d'une culture. Au-delà de l'attachement sentimental et de l'identification culturelle, le paysage est un capital, une ressource, qui se décline économiquement car il commande la viticulture, le tourisme et la construction.

2) Health impact: Worries about electric and magnetic fields with explicit cancer risks from high voltage lines listed in high risk category 2 out of 5 possible by the World Health Organisation.

3) Cumulative impacts: "Accumulation de tuyaux venant traverser en le balafrant le département (Ligne à grande vitesse, projets d'aqueduc entre le Rhône et la Catalogne espagnole, élargissement de l'autoroute, project de gazoduc) ne procurant pour la plupart d'entre eux aucun avantage pour les habitants…se considerant mal traités par l'Etat français."

The conclusions of the board, based on the hearings and the commissioned studies are that there are three acceptable alternatives to the current contested project:

	1) Restarting the cancelled mid Pyrenees line.

	2) Renovating the existing Vic-Baixàs line.

3) Take the new line along the high speed train route, reducing all impacts, especially when laid underground.

"Les sociologues constatent que le débat public est un processus de structuration de la société. Cette observation est confirmée par le résultat de ce débat: la constitution par une procédure hors de l'élection d'une représentativité et d'une légitimé. N'hesitons pas à outre passer notre rôle en soulignant l'intérêt de cette construction et en conseillant vivement à ceux qui s'occuperont de ce dossier dans la suite d'en tenir en compte."

The positive outcome from empowerment is highlighted by my personal experience in Spain for the motorway tunnel through a natural park, Tunels de Vallvidrera, a publicly owned toll way built for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, which had widespread opposition but was legitimised ex post by the creation of a board incorporating all parties, of which I was a member, overseeing construction and compensations. Compensation took the form of public works for the residential areas along the route, placing 40% of the motorway in artificial tunnels and attending individual complaints. Unfortunately no public hearings were held before the decision to build was taken and Spain still has no mechanism like France in place to legitimise public works ex ante by empowering participants. The Tunels de Vallvidrera ex post experience could be a precedent for the current impasse in Spain. 

The French report gives the reasoned argument for bottom up participation rather than top down centralised imposition:

"Le débat public a transformé une opposition ressentie en oppositon raisonnée. Ce projet est entaché d'une tare congénitale car il est conséquence d'un geste d'autorité ayant bafoué les procedures républicaines. Pour un service public le moindre des devoirs est d'être compris par le public, sinon il y a contradiction." 

The conclusion of the board is that:

	1) Interconnection should be through existing corridors rather than creating a new one.

2) The public debate has not given a green light to the current project because it is unjustified, with RTE supplying arbitrary data and with negative impacts.

3) The project was sent back to RTE to re-analyse interconnections which encompass the whole Pyrenees, but RTE has not responded to the request of the board.

4) Security concerns must look at the whole Pyrenees and not be based on a single interconnection. Security is not the same as commercial interests.

5) The impact on the countryside must be given a higher value because this is the main opposition.

6) The new line is tied to the high speed train. The logic of grouping together both projects should go one step further by placing the HVT line along the track, underground preferably.

A dialogue has been established which can lead to convergence although no agreement has yet been reached. However the public debate has created legitimate representatives to talk to so that a negotiated compromise may still be possible.

The president of CNDP, the public debates body in France, explains that high voltage lines have been the sole protagonists of public debates since the procedure was established in 1995 by the Barnier Law:

	1) The Boutre-Carros HVT line in 1998.

	2) The Lyons-Chambery HVT line in 2002.

	3) The France-Spain HVT line in 2003.

Public debates are criticised for delaying the construction of large projects but the current project already faced unanimous opposition at the local level. The debate was credible, letting opposing points of view be heard without limitations and in a calm environment:

"Chacun a pu constater que le débat public était un espace d'ouverture et de liberté et non, comme certains avaient exprimé la crainte a priori, une machine à faire passer le projet."

Yves Mansillon finds that renovating lines does not provoke the opposition a new line faces, as he sees in the Aude section which is not new but must be renovated for the project:

"Le projet ne soulève pas de difficulté particuliére, ce que n'est pas surprenant puisqui'l consiste seulement à renforcer la ligne existante."

The president of the CNDP reinforces with his observation the proposal of the board of the public debate to renovate the Vic-Baixàs line as the best compromise to the contested project or the high cost alternatives like undergrounding.

The public debate played an important role in reassuring locals that they were fully informed and could express their opinions on the project. The promoter RTE was also able to gauge the full extent of the problems to undertake an effective solution. Further studies were needed and those commissioned to Italian analysts CESI by the public debate are discussed in the next section. The CNDP president confirms the board demand that RTE also study new alternatives, incorporating "all possible crossings of the Pyrenees."

The French transmission monopoly RTE is not at all happy with the outcome of the public debate, arguing that the new project is necessary because high speed trains disrupt the electricity network while an underground option is too costly as an alternative:

1) "Le fonctionnement des TGV entraînera une perturbation importante du courant. Ces hautes niveaux de déséquilibre affecteront la qualité de service dans la zone."

2) An underground cable is technically possible but costs ten times more at 10 million euros/km.

3) A sea cable from Baixàs to the nuclear and gas power stations in Vandellós needs 160 kms undersea and 40 kms land connections at the cost of 1,900 million euros.

The sea cable cost given here by RTE is identical to their land based underground cable costs. Newer figures by RTE lower the costs of an underground cable by half, to five times an overhead line, 5 million euros/km. RTE president Dominique Maillard admitted the project faced very strong local opposition but hoped to be on line by 2013. There was no hidden agenda although the route had yet to be decided and some portions would be underground. In a second interview he changed the cost estimates once again:

1) Overhead line 500-600,000 euros/km.

2) Underground cable 6-8 million euros/km.

RTE president Maillard is willing to accept an increase in costs of 50% to bury the line but no more.

The French electricity company EDF also comments on the public debate that there is strong local opposition, especially because of the impact on the countryside. EDF says the problem must be resolved by RTE through dialogue with the socioeconomic stakeholders affected and using the best technical solutions. EDF goes back to the original project of the nineties asking for a reinforcement through the central or western Pyrenees. This shows that for the electricity company that actually supplies the power the whole Pyrenees and not just one interconnection should be taken into account.

The groups opposing the line in France have found that the Spanish transmission monopoly REE has copied the arguments from the French transmission monopoly RTE, and they argue instead:

1) The project is based on an increasing demand which has not been documented, arbitrarily trebling interconnection capacity from 1,400 MW to 4,000 MW.

2) Cogeneration plants are not being built in Catalonia with 13 projects totalling 5,200 MW pending approval, thus creating an artificial scarcity crisis.

3) The real risk for Girona is the bad quality of local lines, especially in summer peaks.

4) The project is not of general interest, rather protects monopolists facing the liberalisation of the European market at the expense of consumers.

5) RTE admits in its 2003 Report that greater interconnection capacity increases the risk of blackouts.

6) The Pacte del Tinell 2003 of the three party ruling coalition in Catalonia called for a moratorium on new lines until a new energy map was designed for Catalonia: 

"Establir mecanismes que evitin la construcció de línies d'alta tensió fins que hi hagi el nou Pla Energètic de Catalunya."

The Conseil d'Etat in France cancelled in 2006 an overhead line because it was not in the public interest. The same could happen in this case given the impasse reflected by the public debate.

2.3 The CESI Alternatives

The Centro Elettrotecnico Sperimentale Italiano CESI, an independent company, has produced several options in two papers for the public debate in France. However despite their large number, twelve in total, there are major omissions:

1) The cost and criteria used for the REE/RTE line Sentmenat-Bescanó-Baixàs are not evaluated. 

2) The CESI brief was limited to the French public debate so their studies only consider Bescanó-Baixàs, omitting all the project from Sentmenat to Bescanó.

3) CESI has not updated other existing interconnections, in particular the Mid-Pyrenees Project.

The Mid-Pyrenees Project had been approved by both the French and Spanish governments until the transmission monopoly RTE dropped it. As table 1.2 shows the reason for backing out was excess capacity. The new line was not needed because of underutilisation in interconnections. The current project will worsen overcapacity with CESI predicting a use of 20% to 38% for the line. Renovating the existing Vic-Baixàs line makes more economic sense with 60% capacity predicted. 

Interconnections are being promoted to help in the European liberalisation of electricity markets but cross-border exchanges continue to be limited by technical and commercial constraints:
	1) Transport problems: non-uniform loads, parallel flows, differing security criteria.

	2) Communication problems: absence of coordination in protection and controls.

The Sentmenat-Bescanó-Baixàs interconnection is a top down approach with long term geopolitical objectives with the yet to be planned Algeria line rather than apparent market liberalisation. The sweetener is a doubling of the European subsidy to 20% as a priority project. The main reason given for the new project is the high speed train TGV/AVE which produces a security disequilibrium on the electricity network because of its high energy intake in biphasic from the RTE/REE triphasic supply:

"L'alimentation des caténaires des lignes TGV est obtenue par la transformation de la haute tension du résau triphasé RTE en une tension de 25 kV biphasés. Le prélèvement d'une tension entre deux phases d'un système triphasé peut engendrer des dérangements sur le réseau qui peuvent s'avérer intolérables. Ces dérangements sont appelés Taux de Déséquilibre."

However existing power lines already provide a sufficient guarantee to supply high speed trains on both sides of the frontier:

1) The network is sufficient on the French side.

2) Updating the current lines on the Spanish side would be enough.

3) The interconnection is not needed but, of course, it would increase security and capacity.

CESI studies twelve options as alternatives to the official contested project:

	1) Overhead line along the high speed track.
	
	2) Overhead line along track but avoiding population centres.

	3,4,5) Underground cables along high speed track.

	6) Partly underground along high speed track.

	7,8,9) Reinforcing existing Vic-Baixàs line.

	10) Sea cable between Figueres and Baixàs.

	11) Reinforcing existing Hernani-Argia line in the Western Pyrenees.

	12) New line through the mid-Pyrenees.

The criteria considered, without any weighting, that is all criteria have equal value with subjective colour coding from a green light to a red stop, are as follows:
1) Technical criteria: length of line, expertise required, reliability, redundancy, excess charges on other lines in case of problem, construction difficulty, nuisance to local population, maintenance problems, distance from high speed track.

2) Environmental criteria: visual impact, electromagnetic fields, right of way in construction and permanent, animal and plant impact, groundwater impact, impact on protected areas and archaeological sites.

3) Economic criteria: capital costs, power losses, dismantling costs, compensation for right of way and municipalities.

Table 2.1 Cost of the CESI Alternatives

Costs in million euros
No.	Line	Route	Connection	Kms	Construction
Cost	Other
Costs	Total
Cost 	

1	
Overhead	
TGV/AVE	
Bescanó/Baixàs	
87	
45	
31	
76	
2	Overhead	Avoid cities	Bescanó/Baixàs	92	48	33	81	
3	Underground	TGV/AVE	Bescanó/Baixàs	87	522	10	532	
4	Underground	TGV/AVE	Bescanó/Baixàs	87	518	16	534	
5	Underground	TGV/AVE	Bescanó/Baixàs	87	609	11	620	
6	5 km under.	TGV/AVE	Bescanó/Baixàs	77	74	39	113	
7	Overhead	Reinforcement	Vic/Baixàs	110	57	36	93	
8	Overhead	Part parallel	Vic/Baixàs	110	62	40	102	
9	Overhead	Parallel line	Vic/Baixàs	110	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	
10	Sea cable	Mediterranean	Figueres/Baixàs	n.a.	700	300	1,000	
11	Overhead	Reinforcement	Hernani/Argia	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	
12	Overhead	Reinforcement	Biescas/Pragnères	240	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	

Note: n.a. Not available in the CESI studies.
Source: Elaborated from CESI 2002 and CESI 2004.

Table 2.1 shows the costs of the 12 CESI alternatives where CESI has given prices and distances. Underground cables are ten times as expensive and a sea line doubly so. Table 2.2 shows the subjective criteria favouring or not each alternative. Table 2.3 summarises the cost per km, where given by CESI, with the following observations pertinent:

	1) Construction costs of overhead lines at 520,000 euros km.

	2) Construction cost of underground cable at some 6 million euros km.

	3) Sea cable doubles underground costs. 

The objective cost criteria, not given in all CESI options, and the subjective technical, environmental and economic criteria favour overhead lines. However it should be pointed out:

Table 2.2 Subjective Choices by CESI

No.	Line	Route	Connection	Kms	Favourable	Difficult	Unfavourable	

1	
Overhead	
TGV/AVE	
Bescanó/Baixàs	
87	
Length, 
expertise	
	
Visual	
2	Overhead	Avoid cities	Bescanó/Baixàs	92	Length, 
expertise	Visual		
3	Underground	TGV/AVE	Bescanó/Baixàs	87	Length	Cost, nuisance, 
right of way, 
construction, 
maintenance,
dismantling,
electromagnetic, protected areas,	Groundwater	
4	Underground	TGV/AVE	Bescanó/Baixàs	87	Length	Cost, nuisance, construction, maintenance,
dismantling, protected areas, 
	Groundwater 	
5	Underground	TGV/AVE	Bescanó/Baixàs	87	Length	Cost, 
maintenance, right of way, protected areas,	Expertise, construction, nuisance, 
right of way, groundwater	
6	5 km Under-ground	TGV/AVE	Bescanó/Baixàs	77	Length	Nuisance, electromagnetic
		
7	Overhead	Reinforcement	Vic/Baixàs	110	Expertise	Length, TGV, protected areas,
power losses		
8	Overhead	Part parallel	Vic/Baixàs	110	Expertise	Length, TGV, protected areas,
power losses		
9	Overhead	Parallel line	Vic/Baixàs	110			Security	
10	Sea cable	Mediterranean	Figueres/Baixàs	n.a.		Groundwater, expertise, maintenance, TGV, animals and flora	Cost, length, nuisance, construction right of way, 
dismantling	
11	Overhead	Reinforcement	Hernani/Argia	n.a.			Security	
12	Overhead	Reinforcement	Biescas/Pragnères	240	Security, redundancy		Length, cost	

Source: Elaborated from CESI 2002 and CESI 2004.

Table 2.3 Cost per km of the CESI Alternatives

Thousand euros
No.	Line	Route	Connection	Kms	Construction
Cost	Other
Costs	Total
Cost 	

1	
Overhead	
TGV/AVE	
Bescanó/Baixàs	
87	
520	
356	
876	
2	Overhead	Avoid cities	Bescanó/Baixàs	92	520	356	876	
3	Underground	TGV/AVE	Bescanó/Baixàs	87	6,000	115	6,115	
4	Underground	TGV/AVE	Bescanó/Baixàs	87	5,954	187	6,141	
5	Underground	TGV/AVE	Bescanó/Baixàs	87	7,010	126	7,126	
6	5 km under.	TGV/AVE	Bescanó/Baixàs	77	959	509	1,468	
7	Overhead	Reinforcement	Vic/Baixàs	110	520	328	848	
8	Overhead	Part parallel	Vic/Baixàs	110	565	363	928	
9	Overhead	Parallel line	Vic/Baixàs	110	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	
101	Sea cable	Mediterranean	Figueres/Baixàs	58	8,905	6,034	14,948	
11	Overhead	Reinforcement	Hernani/Argia	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	
12	Overhead	Reinforcement	Biescas/Pragnères	240	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	

Notes: n.a. Not available in the CESI studies.
(1) Option 10 costed by CESI only for French part with 19 km underground and 39 km sea cable with 516.5 construction, 350 other and 866.5 million euro total cost up to the border.
Source: Elaborated from table 2.1.

1) The existing Vic-Baixàs line has comparable costs to the fast track option and is as much a viable alternative.

2) The mid-Pyrenees line originally preferred by RTE/REE has not been costed and could be another viable alternative.

3) A marginal underground line of 5 kms total length out of 77 means only 6% lies underground with 94% of the line overhead. This symbolic grounding increases costs by 50% and even by 22% compared to upgrading the Vic-Baixàs alternative.

The CESI studies show that the best cost alternative to the contested overhead Sentmenat-Bescanó-Baixàs line is not an underground cable but reinforcing the Vic-Baixàs line already in existence. This conclusion is based on the CESI study which fails to cost the mid and western Pyrenees alternatives, the Spanish side of a sea cable, the Vic-Baixàs parallel line, plus the entire Sentmenat-Bescanó section of the current project, making meaningless the cost and technical criteria used to reach via Vic the TGV/AVE track and Bescanó station which is not the point of origin of the European Interconnection, rather 87 kms southwest in Sentmenat.

This is the problem with a study for a public enquiry limited to just one section of the project. A public enquiry for the entire project would lead to quite different conclusions on preferred routes and techniques. The second CESI report admits as much:

1) "On peut en effet concevoir de renforcer l'interconnexion du côté atlantique, le long de l'axe central des Pyrénées ou sur la côte de la Méditerranée en alternative à la construction d'une nouvelle ligne entre les postes de Baixàs et de Bescanó."

2) "La construction d'une nouvelle ligne dans les Pyrénées centrales permet de garantir un fonctionnement du réseau dans le respect des critères de sécurité recommandés par l'UCTE, tant dans le cas d'une mise hors service d'une ligne que d'un groupe générateur."

3) "Le premier gros utilisateur à en bénéficier serait le TGV. Il a été démontré qu'en France le TGV peut être alimenté sans construction de la ligne Baixàs-Bescanò. Il pourrait l'être égalment en Espagne au prix de l'exécution de renforcements de réseaux actuels en 400 kV et en 220 kV."

A European decision based on these flawed CESI alternatives will lead to the wrong route, the wrong technical solution and the wrong costs for an European interconnection.

2.4 The Precautionary Principle in Underground Options

The Precautionary Principle was first formulated in the Rio Declaration of the 1992 UN Conference:

	"In order to protect the environment the Precautionary Approach shall be widely 	applied by States according to their capabilities. Where there are threats of serious or 	irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for 	postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation."

The European Union incorporates the Precautionary Principle in the Treaty:

	"Community policy on the environment shall aim at a higher level of protection taking 	into account the diversity of situations in the various regions. It shall be based on the 	Precautionary Principle and on the principles that preventive action should be taken."

The European Court of Justice has clarified that the Precautionary Principle means projects can only be authorised if proven with scientific certainty they do not to harm the environment:

	"A plan or project likely to have significant effect on the site is only to be authorised if 	it is ascertained that it will not adversely affect the integrity of the site, that is where 	no reasonable scientific doubt remains as to the absence of such effects. In case of 	doubt the authorities are prevented from authorising the plan or project under the 	Precautionary Principle."

This Precautionary Principle must also be applied to the current project. This means that alternatives must be fully analysed, not limited to the CESI reports which have been shown to be deficient. The European Coordinator and the transmission monopolies are considering underground options and these, whether land or sea based, will now be analysed in this section taking into account the Precautionary Principle. 

The SAGE advisory group in the U.K. incorporates the industry, experts and concerned groups operating on similar principles as a public hearing in the planning rather than project stage, something which should have been done before the current project was adopted in the top down approach. SAGE demonstrates that underground cables are the environmental alternative for new lines and have comparable costs: 

	"The costs of new underground cables can be broadly comparable to overhead 	lines…and are increasingly preferred. Underground cables eliminate the electric field 	and reduce the width over which the magnetic field is elevated."

SAGE applies the Precautionary Principle by preferring underground lines wherever population is closer than 60 metres either side of a 400 kV line, with a magnetic field below 0.4 µT. Because of the electrical and magnetic fields from overhead high voltage lines, the Precautionary Principle must consider the impact on human health. A narrow definition based on child leukaemia cases is preferred by the industry and therefore used exclusively by the SAGE report which is consensual. However SAGE does state, but not study, that the health effects from burying a power line could be a hundred times higher with the California Approach that incorporates a wide range of health effects.

SAGE recommends undergrounding should start first with new lines:

	"Taking action on existing situations would be more complex and more expensive and
we suggest that the initial decision Government should make is whether or not to take action in relation to new construction."

The consensual nature of SAGE limits the benefits of the Precautionary Principle by giving veto powers to the industry according to independent members. Expert Roger Coghill of Coghill Research Laboratories criticises the narrowness of the health impact considered: 

	"Only childhood cancer is considered when much peer-reviewed evidence points to 	implication of electromagnetic fields exposure in other cancers, disorders and 	neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's (and) the adverse 	effects on melatonin synthesis within the body."

Denis Henshaw of the University of Bristol adds that the California Approach is based on 200 epidemiological studies with compelling evidence that magnetic fields enhance the effects of carcinogens. The transmission operators themselves admit the consensual SAGE results understate the impact on the population of overhead power lines:
	"If anything the document underplays the adverse effects of corridors for existing 	homeowners."

The ecologists present in the SAGE study criticise that the latest scientific evidence has not been considered nor the effects of electromagnetic fields on nature, that the Precautionary Principle is not applied because it is rejected by the industry, that cost benefit analysis ignores consumers' willingness to pay and that public opinion also counts. As Powerwatch summarizes the cart has been put before the horse when it should be the other way round with the Precautionary Principle applied before scientific certainty: 

	"A Precautionary Approach can only be taken before scientific certainty is reached."

The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors confirms that scientific certainty is what leads to the Precautionary Principle while public consultation is the social evolution that makes possible the application of the Precautionary Principle:

	"It is the nature of scientific uncertainty which has driven the need for the 	development of a Precautionary Approach. The SAGE process should be seen as part 	of a societal evolution towards developing and instituting the Precautionary Principle."

The arguments for an underground cable are based on health and property damage factors:

1) Health: The electromagnetic standard adopted is less than 0.4 µT based on the
recommendation for power lines in Holland, although Italy has a stricter standard near schools, hospitals and homes of 0.2 µT. Measurements in the U.K. over one year for 43 275/400 kV lines gave an average field of 0.5 µT at 50 metres, down to 0.1 µT at 100 metres. Underground lines at one metre depth reduce the field of 0.4 µT to 15 metres for a 400 kV line, four times less impact.

2) Property values: Overhead lines have diminished the value of property 15% for homes and 5% for large properties at 50 metres according to observations for all the UK. Underground lines have no observations yet, but generate the opposite effect increasing property values by creating green corridors and reducing visual impact to zero.

The cost benefit criteria for underground cables according to the SAGE studies are shown in table 2.4 for 400 kV compared to overhead lines with the high and low end estimates for both the cable and total investment. Tunnels double the investment. An underground cable doubles the cost of an overhead line in rural areas and costs only one third more in urban areas, without counting the home compensation listed in the last row. Underground cables make commercial sense. 

Table 2.4 also shows compensation per house and km. Compensation per house not built is estimated at 25-100,000 euros and per house removed 25-200,000 euros. The compensation is 

Table 2.4 Cost Benefit Criteria for Underground 400 kV Cables

				Thousand euros
400 kV	Range	Cable Cost
/km	Capital Cost
/km	

Trench	
Low end	
2,560	
7,680	
	High end	6,400	15,360	
Tunnel	Low end	2,816	11,520	
	High end	7,040	21,760	
Overhead	Rural	1,280	n.a.	
	Urban	1,920	n.a.	
	Compensation 
per home	
3-26		
Note: n.a. not available. £ 1 = 1.28 euros from 17 March 2008.
Source: Elaborated from SAGE 2007b.

based on the WHO limit of 0.4 µT for leukaemia prevention but with the wider health hazards of the California Approach compensation would be up to one hundred times higher, making undergrounding even more attractive to transmission companies. 

SAGE concludes that in future no overhead cables will be strung in urban areas once all home and undeveloped land costs are factored in, so that health will not even be an issue because it will be more profitable for companies to bury cables:

	"It is almost inconceivable that an electricity company would seek to build a new 	overhead power line in areas with high housing density. In practice considerations of 	physical access, aesthetics and acquisition of property rights would have forced the 	undergrounding options long before the economics of health became significant."

A growing option in undergrounding is sea cables. Table 2.5 shows some of the existing links, mostly quite recent. The Spanish transmission monopoly REE announced in April 2008 a 237 km sea cable link from the Peninsula to Majorca proving that a sea cable is a feasible alternative to the Sentmenat-Bescanó-Baixàs project. Sea cables have distinct advantages:

1) Greatly reduced environmental impact.

2) No planning delays.

3) Reduced transmission losses.

4) No health risks.

5) Increased security of supply with no cuts from extreme weather.

Table 2.5 Sea Cables in Operation and Spanish Plan 

Sea Cable	Link	kms	Technology	Year	

Cross Channel	
England-France	
72	
270 kV DC 2,000 MW	
1986	
Moyle	Scotland-Ireland	64	250 kV DC 500 MW	2001	
Three Gorges	China	890	500 kV DC 3,000 MW	2003	
Bass Link	Australia	298	400 kV DC 600 MW	2005	
Estlink	Estonia-Finland	105	150 kV DC 350 MW	2006	
Neptune	New Jersey-Long Island	105	345 kV DC 750 MW	2007	
NorNed	Norway-Holland	580	450 kV DC 700 MW	2007	
Ròmul	Sagunt-Calvià	237	250 kV DC 400 MW	2010	

Source: Elaborated from CIGRE 2006, LIPA 2007, Crown Estate 2008 and REE 2008a.

The Crown Estate, managed by the British monarchy, has put forward in 2008 a major plan for sea cables all along the east coast connecting the wind farms in the islands to the north of Scotland with the main consumption centres right down to the South of England as drawn on the map of table 2.6.

Sea cable budgets are shown in table 2.7 for seven projects averaging 489 kms in length and 669 million euros investment per project. This means an average total investment of 1.4 million euros per km. The East Coast Sea Cable project has some 17 sea cable options shown in table 2.8 averaging 408 kms and 1.5 million euros per km of investment. Cable costs alone average 745,000 euros per km. Adding the 24 projects in both tables, average investment is 1.5 million euros per km. Sea cables can be very profitable as the England-France link shows allowing the entry of new players life French EDF into Britain where it is now a major player.

One of the projects from Lewis to the Scottish mainland, originally an overhead line, is now planned by the transmission company as an underground line as a first option. Highlands Before Pylons however proposes as a better option a long distance sub sea cable (table 2.7 HBP). The extra cost is only 30%, mostly due to the AC/DC converters on either end of the cable. Paul Driver, secretary of Highlands Before Pylons comments: 

"For this reason short cables like HBP Direct seem disproportionately expensive. It's good to see the European Coordinator is considering some undergrounding. Wish you success since I'm sure that subsea would be a better solution in the long term."

Table 2.6 East Coast Sea Cable

Source: Crown Estate 2008

Table 2.7 Sea Cable Budgets

		Thousand euros
Sea cable	Link	kms	Budget	Cost/km	

NorNed 400kV	
Norway-Holland	
580	
550,000	
948	
BritNed	Norway-England	200	300,000	1,500	
North Sea 500kV	Norway-England	730	900,000	1,233	
West Coast Interconnection	Western Isles-Cornwall	700	1,485,000	2,121	
HBP direct1	Lewis-Scotland	140	450,000	3,214	
HBP Merseyside	Lewis-Liverpool	550	600,000	1,100	
Neptune 345kV	New Jersey-Long Island	105	400,000	3,809	

Average budget	
7 projects	
489	
669,000	
1,411	

Note: £ 1 = 1.28 euros from 17 March 2008.
	(1) Includes 70 kms underground cable on land.
Source: Elaborated from Crown Estate 2008, LIPA 2007, HBP 2006.

Table 2.8 Sea Cable and Capital Costs

Thousand euros
Origin	Technology (all DC)	kms	Cable Cost
/km	Capital Cost
/km	

Shetland	
300 kV 2 x 300 MW	
350	
367	
1,097	
	300 kV 2 x 500 MW	350	735	1,496	
	300 kV 1,000 MW, 700 MW	350	742	2,267	
	1,000 MW	183	n.a.	2,231	
	700 MW	346	n.a.	825	
Orkney	300 kV 2 x 500 MW	125	367	914	
Lewis	300 kV 2 x 500 MW	420	734	1,445	
	300 kV 2 x 500 MW	600	744	1,325	
Peterhead	500 kV	200	803	1,709	
	500 kV	300	810	1,489	
	500 kV	550	809	1,282	
	1,000 MW	608	n.a.	802	
	1,000 MW	608	n.a.	912	
	1,000 MW	719	n.a.	881	
Hunterton	500 kV	350	810	1,426	
Walpole	1,000 MW	66	n.a.	4,577	
Killing	1,000 MW	245	n.a.	1,254	

Average	
17 projects	
375	
7451	
1,525	
	24 planned and budgeted	408	7451	1,492	

	Notes: n.a. not available. 
	£ 1 = 1.28 euros from 17 March 2008.
	(1) cable cost for 10 projects at average 360 kms length.
	Source: Elaborated from TNEI 2007, Crown Estate 2008 and table 2.7.

2.5. Conclusions on the Public Hearings in France

The European Priority Electricity Interconnection Project Sentmenat-Bescanó-Baixàs has produced the greatest demonstration in the last hundred years in Perpignan with Catalan opposition south of the border also present. The presidents of France and Spain declared jointly in 2008 that this project would only go ahead in agreement with the local populations based on the guidelines of European Coordinator Mario Monti. They requested the transmission monopolies RTE and REE to provide technical solutions with greater transparency to give answers to the worries expressed by the local populations, prioritising a partial undergrounding of the line.

France, unlike Spain, conforms fully to European law and held public hearings on the project, giving voice to these local concerns but not producing the desired outcome of the top down approach since the official board found the new line was not justified:

	1) A political decision had been taken without any technical back-up.

2) Security was a false argument since RTE admits the REE network has ample security while the new line will remain permanently underutilised to as low as 30% of capacity. 

3) There are more efficient alternatives to the new line: 

-renovate the existing Vic-Baixàs 400 kV interconnection

-build new generation in Catalonia

-undergrounding.

4) The high speed train does not require the new line.

5) The local population opposes the negative socio-environmental, health and cumulative impact of large scale projects in a single corridor. 

The CNDP national debate commission found the hearings successful because they legitimised stakeholders empowering spokesmen for the local population and providing transmission companies with the information for a correct decision. The board at the public hearing recommended:

1) Existing corridors should be used, that is the Vic-Baixàs, Mid and Atlantic Pyrenees interconnections. The two transmission companies must present a project that looks at the whole Pyrenees. Security cannot be based on a single interconnection.

2) The impact on the countryside must be given a greater weight.

3) The new line is a consequence of the high speed train. The logic of grouping together both projects should be extended to its logical end by placing the interconnection parallel to the track, preferably underground.

CNDP president Yves Mansillon explains public debate makes top down large projects possible by making the decision acceptable from the bottom up. Renovating lines do not generate opposition and should be the first choice instead of building new lines. All French public debates have been on overhead lines, showing it is a technology with no public acceptance. Renovating lines do not generate this opposition nor undergrounding. RTE has raised the cost issue of alternatives but is willing to invest 50% more for an acceptable solution. If renovation is the choice the French transmission monopoly prefers restarting the mid-Pyrenees line abandoned in the nineties which cost RTE 100 million euros in compensation to the Spanish monopoly REE for breach of contract. 

The public debate in France asked the independent company CESI to evaluate 12 alternatives, without contrasting them with the existing project or considering the entire length. CESI was not asked to update two of the three existing interconnections or to value their present underutilisation so that the new line will only be used as low as 20% of capacity. Coordination of the different systems and lack of communication have also not been analysed.

CESI points out existing lines provide sufficient guarantees for the high speed trains, despite their destabilising consumption. Updating existing Spanish lines is enough. Given all these profound limitations, the CESI alternatives are:

	1) An interconnection route parallel to the high speed train, overhead or underground.

	2) Renovate the existing Vic-Baixàs 400 kV line.

	3) Sea-cable circling the Pyrenees.

	4) Renovate the existing mid-Pyrenees line.

	5) Renovate the existing Atlantic line.

Undergrounding is an option limited to a symbolic 5 kms or 6% of the length considered or 3% of the entire European project. With 97% of the line overhead, it is misleading to call this undergrounding. CESI costs cable and total investment for some options but in fact gives subjective choices based on length, expertise, nuisance and other values weighted in favour of an overhead option, but not following the projected route, rather the more sensible parallel to the high speed track. 

The CESI results are partial, by not considering the entire project, and therefore misleading. For example the Vic-Baixàs renovation is made unattractive by backtracking to mid-point Bescanó rather than continuing its normal direct route to Sentmenat where the European project actually starts. CESI admits that reinforcing the existing three interconnections over the Pyrenees are good alternatives, providing all the security required while the high speed train does not need a new line. Renovating existing lines in Spain would be enough.

A European decision based on the flawed CESI alternatives will lead to the wrong route, the wrong technical solution and the wrong costs for the European Priority Electricity Interconnection Project Sentmenat-Bescanó-Baixàs.

The Precautionary Principle, which is European, French and Spanish law, applied to the current project means alternatives must be fully analysed, not limited to the deficient CESI reports. Since undergrounding is being considered both by the European Coordinator and by RTE (REE has so far said nothing) experience with existing underground lines show that: 
The costs of new underground cables can be broadly comparable to overhead lines and are increasingly preferred.

A strict definition of health hazards of overhead lines, based solely on childhood leukaemia, requires a costly 120 metre corridor, plus its visual impact. Undergrounding in contrast has major cost benefit advantages compared to an overhead line:

	1) Health hazards reduced to an area four times smaller.

	2) Home and undeveloped land costs four times less.

	3) No loss of value of 15% for homes and 5% for large properties as an overhead line.

	4) Zero visual impact.

	5) Green corridors increase environmental and property values.

With the wider definition of health hazards of the California Approach the cost of an overhead line can multiply by one hundred. The independent public consultation board SAGE, with transmission and electricity company participation, concludes that in future no new overhead lines will be strung over high value land once all costs are factored in.

Table 2.9 Cost Comparisons in France and the U.K.

								Thousand euros
400 kV Line	Projects	Cable Cost
/km	Investment
/km	

Overhead
RTE	

1	

550	

n.a.	
CESI	4	531	882	
U.K.	Rural	1,280	n.a.	
	Urban	1,920	n.a.	
Trench
RTE	
2	
n.a.	
6,000	
CESI	3	6,321	6,461	
U.K.	Low end	2,560	7,680	
	High end	6,400	15,360	
Sea cable
RTE1	
1	
9,500	
n.a.	
CESI2	1	8,905	14,948	
U.K.	24	745	1,547	

Notes: n.a. not available
(1) 160 kms sea and 40 kms land connections Baixàs-Vandellós.
(2) 39 kms sea and 19 kms underground Baixàs-Figueres.
Source: Elaborated from tables 2.3, 2.4, 2.8, Seigneurie and Moretti 2003, Invertia 2008 and Diari de Girona 2008a.

Sea cables are an increasingly viable alternative compared to ground based options:

1) Greatly reduced environmental impact.

2) No planning delays.

3) Reduced transmission losses.

4) No health risks.

5) Increased security of supply with no cuts from extreme weather.

Sea cables are being increasingly laid in the new millennium. A major plan to link Great Britain along the east coast provides detailed technical and costing data which is contrasted with the RTE and CESI proposals in table 2.9 showing how they have understated costs of overhead lines by not considering all health, property and environmental costs. The opposite is the case with underground where costs are overstated for underground options in the European project and even more so for a sea cable, up to twelve times the average cost of 24 projects in the U.K. The Spanish transmission monopoly REE announced in April 2008 a 237 km sea cable link from the Peninsula to Majorca proving that a sea cable is a feasible alternative to the Sentmenat-Bescanó-Baixàs project.

To conclude:

1) The overhead line projected by RTE-REE does not include all health, property and environmental costs and should be budgeted at least at double the amount to compensate all affected parties and minimise impact.

2) Undergrounding is less costly than predicted by RTE and CESI. The entire project can be laid underground at only one third more than a high end fully costed overhead line.

	3) Sea cables are competitive, unlike the overblown estimates of RTE and CESI, and are a preferred option near the sea like this project, because of ease of planning, increased security, zero health and environmental impact.

4) The Spanish transmission monopoly REE announced in April 2008 a 237 km sea cable link from the Peninsula to Majorca proving that a sea cable is a feasible alternative to the Sentmenat-Bescanó-Baixàs project.

The public debate in France has revealed there is major opposition among the population. The alternatives so far proposed are insufficient. Renovating existing lines, a sea cable or undergrounding along the entire length of the high speed track are more efficient and more equitable than the unjustified and unjustifiable European Priority Electricity Interconnection Project Sentmenat-Bescanó-Baixàs.

Chapter 3: The European Priority Project in Spain

3.1 The Same Public Demonstrations and Public Concerns

The European Priority Electricity Interconnection Project Sentmenat (ES) – Bescanó (ES) –Baixàs (FR) has gone ahead so far in Spain without the protection of European laws fully applicable in Spain and, notably, without the public hearings held in France. However the public demonstrations and public concerns are the same. To underscore the identical widespread rejection south of the Pyrenees, two weeks after the massive Perpignan demonstration in French Catalonia described in the previous chapter, an even bigger one was held south of the Pyrenees in the regional capital of Girona. If the Perpignan demonstration was the largest held in that city over a century, Girona was the largest ever there, as well as the largest so far against the high voltage line. Opposition is not wavering and distrusts the role of the European Coordinator, especially because Spanish transmission monopoly REE has gone ahead with the section of the European project from Sentmenat to Bescanó as Perpignan daily L'independant registers: 

	"Une chose est certaine: la mobilisation contre la THT ne faiblit pas. À Girona les	manifestants ont une nouvelle fois dénoncé les mensonges pur justifier la THT. De 	quoi reviser à fond sa géographie de la Catalogne. La veu del territori (la voix du 	territoire) s'est largement et massivement fait entendre. Pour défendre sa terre contra la 	THT, contre ces 400.000 volts mensongers. Ce sont entre 12.000 et 18.000 personnes 	qui ont envahi la ville à grands renforts de slogans et banderoles. A coté de ni aquí ni 	enlloc (ni ici ni ailleurs) on retrouvait no volem boscos de ferro ou encore prou 	mentides (ça suffit de mensonges), l'ambiance était à la revolte festive. Festive mais 	déterminée. Parmi eux Jean-Jacques Planes, figure incontournable du collectif anti-	THT: "On n'est pas des enfants. On va aller au bout du bout et ne pas se laisser 	enfumer. Avec la venue de Mario Monti il ya eu de la désinformation. Quand j'entends 	parler de version sous-marine de la THT, je n'y vois pas une once de sérieux, même si 	ce n'est pas forcément la plus mauvaise solution. Il s'agissait de nous démobiliser!" 	Plus fort, plus 	dense, plus criante que jamais, la mobilisation avait pour objectif de 	frapper un gros coup avant la venue de Mario Monti à Girona. Les rendez-vous se 	multiplient, les choses semblent s'activer mais ce n'est pas pour autant que les travaux 	de la THT sur 	la portion Sentmenat-Bescanó ont éte stoppés."

The massive demonstration in a festive family environment throughout wanted to convince Europe and Spain to engage in a dialogue just like France as local paper El Punt points out:

	"Des de No a la MAT van trobar molt positiva la resposta popular "després del temps 	que fa i les campanyes per donar per feta la línia des de l'Estat" segons un dels 	portaveus Xavier Llorente. El president de l'AMMAT F. Xavier Quer va lamentar que 	la presència de Monti a Girona "no servirà gaire de res, però esperem que convenci els 	governs perquè parlin amb la gent." Finalment el president de Sydeco, Jean Claude 	Peralba, va insistir que reclamen respostes a qüestions com ara la justificació de la 	línia i la redacció d'un pla director d'interconnexions per als Pirineus. Quant a la 	proposta que ara ha sorgit a França de fer la línia pel mar els representants de la 	Catalunya del Nord la van desqualificar i la van trobar irrealitzable. Per Peralba 'ho fan 	per desviar l'atenció i embolicar la troca."

AMMAT and IAEDEN read a manifesto denouncing the official lies. The biggest demonstration ever held in Girona showed that the local populations will not be steamrolled by a top down fait accompli. European and indeed Spanish law provides for the right to participate in public decisions. France has held a public debate while Spain continues with the bad practices of a despotic past:

	"Ens diuen que la MAT és un fet consuMAT contra el qual no es pot fer res, però avui 	a Girona hem deixat ben clar que no abaixarem el cap, que ens mantindrem drets i 	units i que ens oposarem amb totes les nostres forces a aquest projecte. També ens han 	dit que la MAT és per a Girona i que sense ella qualsevol dia ens quedarem a les 	fosques i tornarem a les cavernes. L'única foscor és la de les mentides que volen 	justificar la MAT. Les nostres necessitats poden abastar-se amb alternatives que ni 	tan sols han estat considerades i que per descomptat no causarien ni de bon tros el 	mateix dany que la MAT. No només som aquí per denunciar sinó també per exigir el 	que és nostre, el dret a participar en les decisions que ens afecten. Que s'aturin les 	obres de la MAT fins que no es dugui a terme un debat clar, transparent, seriós i 	imparcial sobre la seva necessitat. La MAT pertany al passat, però si deixem que es 	faci comprometrà el nostre futur. Tanquem la porta a la MAT i obrim la finestra al 	sol."

The massive demonstration held in Girona was the answer to European promises that the local population would also be heard in Spain, despite the Spanish government doing the contrary so far as leading Spanish daily El Pais points out:

	"El mensaje de los manifestantes se dirigió hacia las Administraciones española y	francesa a las que exigieron la retirada inmediata del proyecto, pero principalmente 	hacia el mediador europeo para la interconexión eléctrica entre España y Francia 	Mario Monti. "Monti dijo textualmente en su última intervención que la presión 	popular sería importante a la hora de tomar decisiones. Pues que tome nota, porque 	cada vez hay más oposición a la línea de 400 kV" aseguró Pasqual Aguilar, portavoz 	de la plataforma No a la MAT. Aguilar reclamó una vez más que los gobiernos 	español y francés demuestren la necesidad real de la línea de muy alta tensión. 	También desfilaron animales emblemáticos como el burro catalán, símbolo del 	rechazo a la infraestructura eléctrica."

The huge demonstration shows that Catalans are not resigned to accept a top down decision which fails to publicly debate alternatives:

	"Resulta ben clar que la millora de la qualitat, la quantitat i la seguretat en el	subministrament d'energia elèctrica és absolutament imprescindible, però a molts ens 	resulta igualment clar que això es pot aconseguir sense l'obra monstruosa i faràonica 	que es vol fer."
The Girona daily El Punt editorialises that a dialogue must be established, even if the top down decision is taken as given by the European Coordinator: 

	"La manifestació contra la MAT és una mostra més del rebuig que aquest projecte ha	aixecat des de fa mesos al territori català. El mediador europeu Mario Monti hauria de 	prendre nota. Monti ja s'ha pronunciat i ho ha fet a favor de la línia, però un projecte 	com aquest, per més acord polític que hi hagi sobre la seva necessitat (de fet ni al 	mateix govern de la Generalitat no hi ha unanimitat), no es pot dur a terme sense 	escoltar la veu dels afectats. La sensació no és pas que s'hagin esgotat les víes de 	diàleg."

The problem in Spain is that, unlike France, there is a long tradition of antidemocratic and illiberal despotism, as socialist economist Anton Costas points out:

	"Las décadas de democracia no han cambiado el viejo modelo dictatorial en 	infraestructuras consistente en enviar al territorio a los técnicos y a las máquinas para 	hacer la obra, acompañados eso sí de una pareja de la Guardia Civil. Una sociedad 	democrática, libre y reivindicativa necesita un modelo más deliberativo, un modelo 	con mucha información. Ese nuevo modelo, además de información fiable exige 	tiempo, transparencia y paciencia para escuchar todas las voces. Sólo así el interés 	general acabará sobreponiéndose a los intereses particularistas."

3.2 European Discrimination

Mario Monti has presented in Girona a new proposal midway to his final report using CESI with new results on the old analysis in the former chapter, favourable now to undergrounding. The Spanish government is afraid of setting a precedent by undergrounding but must accept this for the third section that is mostly in France and 14 kms in Spain:

	"Fins i tot el secretari d'Estat d'Indústria, el gironí Ignasi Nieto, ha acabat admetent,	encara que sigui a contracor, que el govern espanyol està disposat a fer un 	"soterrament forçós". Serà més car, però si ha de servir per acostar diferències. 	benvingut sigui."

CESI does not look trustworthy with these volte faces, but the new proposal is closer to real facts as shown previously:

	"L'informe que ha esta elaborat pel gabinet italià CESI assegura que soterrar tota la 	interconnexió és viable. El cost d'enterrar-la seria quatre vegades superior al de la línia 	aèria. L'informe parla doncs d'un cost inferior al que s'havia dit. El goven espanyol 	parlava d'una inversió deu vegades superior en el soterrament i la companyia REE de 	fins a vint vegades. També va parlar de passar la línia pel mar com una altra 	possibilitat. Pel que fa la justificació l'informe parla de la necessitat de fer la línia per 	exportar l'energia elèctrica que generen els parcs eòlics. Segons va dir un dels 	portaveus de No a la MAT Joan Martí aixó és una injustificació: "Fins i tot el ministre 	francès d'ecologia Jean Louis Borloo ha dit que estudiarà la possibiltat que s'aturi el 	projecte si no se'n justifica la necessitat."

The French government is far from persuaded of the need for the project. The initial proposals for the interconnection were based on security and the new high speed train. The public hearings in France showed that the high speed train does not need the interconnection on the French side and south of the Pyrenees renovating outdated lines would suffice. The argument for security analysed fully in CESI's second report shows that renovating existing lines through the Pyrenees provide all the security required, which means that the current project cannot be justified on security grounds. The conclusions on security by CESI were that renovating specific lines are technically sufficient in four cases:

	1) Le remplacement des conducteurs des lignes THT dans les Pyrénées Atlantiques et 	dans les Pyrénées Orientales, renforcement ou remplacement des pylônes et la 	construction d'una ligne simple terne sur l'axe Vic-Baixàs permet le fonctionnement à 	la limite des conditions de securité préconisées par l'UCTE.

	2) Le redoublement des lignes transfrontalières THT Hernani-Argia et Vic-	Baixàs constitue une alternative recevable, car elle permet le fonctionnement des 	réseaux français et espagnol dans le respect des critères de securité de l'UCTE.

	3) La transformation en 400 kV de la ligne Biescas-Pragnères avec la construction 	d'una ligne simple terne sur l'axe Vic-Baixàs est une alternative recevable, car elle 	permet le fonctionnement des réseaux français et espagnol dans le respect des 	critères de securité de l'UCTE. 

	4) La transformation en 400 kV de la ligne Biescas-Pragnères avec la construction 	d'una ligne simple terne sur l'axe Vic-Baixàs et renforcement des lignes THT 	existantes est une alternative recevable, car elle permet le fonctionnement des réseaux 	français et espagnol dans le respect des critères de securité de l'UCTE. 

In short, not one but four alternatives renovating existing lines meet all security criteria. This has led CESI to change tack bringing out a new argument in its latest report commissioned by Mario Monti based on green energy, so full of caveats it smells of a European red herring:

	"En los escenarios de gran penetración de energía eólica con una cantidad reducida de	centrales convencionales en funcionamiento existe el riesgo de no contar con un 	número suficiente de PSS para garantizar la estabilidad de la red...El gran volumen de 	generación eólica instalada actualmente en la Península Ibérica, y en particular en 	España, es muy sensible a los problemas de estabilidad de la red y puede hacer que 	esta estabilidad sea más frágil."

CESI goes on to detail the record 10,032 MW generated by wind farms on 4th March 2008, which supplied 28% of electricity consumption in the Peninsula, but admits there are sufficient safeguards in place to avoid a surge of electricity from wind farms and that this peak was exceptional:

	"Con una mayor capacidad de intercambio disponible no habría sido necesario emitir 	dichas órdenes de limitación de generación eólica. Estas situaciones no son 	ciertamente situaciones cotidianas."

CESI also raises the question of wind variability which can affect over a two hour period 10% of wind farm output or 1,000 MW lost or gained. But CESI again admits this is purely a theoretical risk well under control with existing mechanisms:

	"Podría provocar una perturbación importante. Existe sin embargo un conjunto de	medidas destinadas a favorecer la integración de la generación eólica sin perjudicar a 	la seguridad."

Green energy does not seem to be able to add to the security argument, the main one for the new interconnection, as CESI repeats in 2008:

	1) Security of the electrical system and quality of service.
	
	2) Security of supply in each interconnected system.

	3) Integration of national and regional electricity markets.

	4) Security of supply in Spanish and French Catalonia.

The new CESI proposals are not framed in a quantitative study and the section studied has been arbitrarily cut down from Baixàs to Bescanó instead of to Sentmenat, which is the European interconnection of the title "Analysis of the Need of a New Interconnection between France and Spain." Moreover the undergrounding proposal would be even shorter, between Baixàs and Santa Llogaia, basically covering only the French section leaving Catalans in Spain discriminated with unequal treatment for the same line. Instead of quantitative studies CESI relies exclusively on data supplied by transmission monopolies REE and RTE. The big change is that suddenly undergrounding is a viable solution, basically for the entire French section. The two sections entirely in Spanish Catalonia are silenced, perhaps because REE has gone ahead without waiting for the European decision on route and technology.

CESI provides a series of incomplete comparisons between an underground and an overhead line now showing undergrounding is a more modern and favourable option:

	1) Undergrounding requires 3-10 metres right of way. No right of way given for an 	overhead line, but pylons occupy 500-800 m2/Km.

	2) Zero visual and sound impacts underground but "very important" visual and sound 	impacts overhead.

	3) Worries about water problems underground but no mention of forest fires induced 	by overhead lines, a major recurring problem in the Mediterranean as Italian-based 	CESI should know.

	4) Underground cables can carry an overload of 200% but overhead only of 10%.

	5) No need for access roads with undergrounding if done along an existing road or rail 	line.

	6) No cultivation 2-3 metres from underground cable, low growth plants only 	overhead with no mention of deforestation, the main permanent casualty.

This incomplete subjective list, without proper costing, is complemented with a comparison of capital costs showing undergrounding as competitive when all costs are included over the life of the line. Undergrounding is especially competitive along an existing road or rail track:

	1) Undergrounding has half the operational costs of an overhead line. Management, 	maintenance, control and security are 1.5% instead of 2-3% of investment.

	2) Undergrounding has lower electricity losses costing 2% of investment compared to 	40% of investment overhead, 20 times more, based on a 30 year life at 0.035 euros 	/kWh discounted at 6.5% interest.

	3) Magnetic fields are between four and twelve times lower underground.

	4) Cable investment 4-8 million euros/km underground (with obstacles 2 million 	more) and 0.6-1 million euros/km overhead (with obstacles one million more).

	5) Other costs: For a land cost of 34 euros/m2, including the additional cost of land 	use and magnetic fields, undergrounding costs the same as an overhead line over 10 	kms.

REE has already laid an underground cable of similar characteristics operating since 2004 in Madrid to feed the new airport of 12 kms in length, showing that undergrounding is an up to date option for the Madrid based monopoly. European discrimination implicit in the new CESI report presented by European coordinator Mario Monti of the two Spanish sections of the European interconnection is unacceptable. What is valid for France and Madrid is also valid for Spanish Catalonia, since all are equally European citizens in this European priority project.

3.3 The Spanish Monopoly's Bypass

European Law has adopted the principle of public participation in decisions on priority energy infrastructure:

	1) The project must be socially cohesive and sustainable in the long run before any 	decision is taken: "Se basará en un análisis coste-beneficio que tendrá en cuenta 	todos los costes y beneficios, incluidos aquellos a medio y largo plazo vinculados a los 	aspectos medioambientales, la seguridad del abastecimiento y la contribución a la 	cohesión social...Los proyectos prioritarios serán compatibles con el desarrollo 	sostenible…Se tendrán en cuenta los resultados de las evaluaciones antes de tomar 	realmente la decisión."

	2) The project must be in agreement with the local population based on the principles 	of non-discrimination, free access to information, right of redress and the right of the 	European Union to enforce compliance of member nations:

	a) Non-discrimination: "Las disparidades entre las disposiciones legales vigentes en 	los Estados miembros sobre el acceso a la información ambiental que obre en poder de 	las autoridades públicas puede crear desigualdades dentro de la Comunidad."

	b) Free access to information: "Es necesario garantizar que toda persona física o 	jurídica tenga derecho de acceso a la información ambiental."

	c) Right of redress: "Los solicitantes deben poder interponer un recurso administrativo 	o judicial contra los actos u omisiones de una autoridad pública en relación con su 	solicitud...Los Estados miembros garantizarán que toda persona que considere que su 	solicitud de información ha sido ignorada, rechazada, respondida de forma inadecuada 	o tratada de manera no conforme tenga acceso a un procedimiento ante una entidad 	independiente e imparcial creada por ley. Todos estos procedimientos serán rápidos y 	gratuitos o poco costosos."

	d) Subsidiarity: "La Comunidad puede adoptar medidas de acuerdo con el principio de 	subsidiariedad...Los Estados miembros adoptarán las disposiciones legales, 	reglamentarias y administrativas necesarias para dar cumplimiento a lo dispuesto en la 	presenta directiva a más tardar el 14 de febrero de 2005."

	3) European projects cannot be done differently in different sections: The European 	Priority Project EL3 is the entire Sentmenat-Bescanó-Baixàs line and not 	partial 	sections of this route.

	4) The project must apply the Precautionary Principle to all citizens without 	discrimination, in particular reference to electromagnetic fields, openly expressing 	risks as well as benefits:

	a) Non-discrimination: "Garantizar la uniformidad de la protección en toda la 	Comunidad."

	b) Precautionary principle: "Teniendo en cuenta el aspecto de precaución."

	c) Electromagnetic risks: "Los Estados miembros deberían tener en cuenta tanto los 	riesgos como los beneficios. Deberían proporcionar al ciudadano información en un 	formato adecuado sobre los efectos electromagnéticos y sobre las medidas adoptadas 	para hacerles frente."

The Aarhus Convention of 1998 is the guiding principle with three pillars according to the European Parliament and the European Commission:

	First pillar: Access to information: "El Convenio de Aarhus exige la adopción de 	disposiciones que permitan la participación del público en la elaboración de los planes 	y programas relativos al medio ambiente." 

	Second pillar: Public participation in the decision: "Para que sea efectiva la 	participación pública debe producirse al inicio del procedimiento, es decir cuando 	todas las opciones son aún posibles...Para garantizar medidas reparadoras adecuadas y 	efectivas la institución u organismo comunitario responsable de la acción impugnada o 	que, en caso de supuesta omisión administrativa no actuó, se le ofrezca la posibilidad 	de reconsiderar su decisión o en caso de omisión actuar."

	Third pillar: Right of redress: "Las organizaciones no gubernamentales que trabajan 	en favor de la protección del medio ambiente deben poder solicitar la revisión interna 	a escala comunitaria de los actos u omisiones...En los casos en los que los 	procedimientos previos de revisión interna no prosperen, la organización no 	gubernamental de que se trate podrá interponer recurso ante el Tribunal de Justicia."

NGOs as interested parties are defined by the European Union as legally constituted non-profit bodies at least two years in operation with declared objectives of environmental protection in the locality and on the European project proposed. This Aarhus Convention has become European Law from the 28th June 2007. 

Public participation has been incorporated in the last ten years to Spanish Administration. Public Administration was adapted in 1992 to the democratic Constitution of the State of Autonomies based on the Rule of Law and equal treatment of all citizens:

	"La Constitución garantiza el sometimiento de las Administraciones Públicas al 	principio de legalidad. Las Administraciones Públicas habrán de garantizar al 	administrado un tratamiento común ante ellas. La Constitución consagra el carácter 	instrumental de la Administración puesta al servicio de los intereses de los ciudadanos. 	Cobra especial relevancia los principios de cooperación, coordinación y 	colaboración."

The electrical sector is also subject to openness as well as free competition in accordance with European law:
	"Se abandona la noción de servicio público, sustituyéndolo por la expresa garantía del 	suministro a todos los consumidores. Se configura un sistema eléctrico que funcionará 	bajo los principios de objetividad, transparencia y libre competencia. Incorpora a 	nuestro ordenamiento las previsiones del Parlamento Europeo y del Consejo sobre 	normas comunes. La presente ley hace compatible una política energética basada en la 	progresiva liberalización del mercado con la consecución de otros objetivos que 	también le son propios como la mejora de la eficiencia energética, la reducción del 	consumo y la protección del medio ambiente."

Transmission was separated from production with rules on investments and audits for the transmission monopoly REE. Significantly REE was enforced in planning a new project to let "interested agents" participate. The idea was electrical companies and non-central levels of government, but the approach is consistent with the later incorporation of NGOs in the process:

	"Dicha planificación tendrá en cuenta las necesidades de desarrollo de la red de 	transporte de energía eléctrica de una manera participativa con los distintos agentes y 	organismos afectados al objeto de permitir la participación en el sector eléctrico de 	todos aquellos agentes interesados."

The Precautionary Principle was incorporated into environmental impact statements in 2001 in accordance with European law: 

	"Uno de los principios básicos que debe informar toda política ambiental es el de 	prevención. Por dicha razón los sucesivos programas de las Comunidades Europeas 	sobre medio ambiente han venido insistiendo en que la mejor manera de actuar en esta 	materia es tratar de evitar con anterioridad a su producción la contaminación o los 	daños ecológicos más que combatir posteriormente sus efectos."

Given the major changes in the European Priority Project Sentmenat-Bescanó-Baixàs, it is important to note that Spanish law requires a new environmental impact statement: 

	"Por otro lado y de acuerdo con la Directiva 96/61/CE en el caso que se produzcan 	modificaciones a la instalación con posterioridad a su autorización, si tal modificación 	tiene el carácter de sustancial no se podrá llevar a cabo hasta contar con una nueva 	autorización ambiental integrada."

Public projects in Spain require that alternatives be studied and social and economic effects analysed as well as environmental impacts:

1) "Estudio de viabilidad: finalidad y justificación de la obra, previsiones sobre la 	demanda, valoración de datos, estudio de impacto ambiental, justificación de la solución elegida indicando entre las alternativas, riesgos, coste de la inversión."
	2) "Anteproyecto de construcción: memoria de necesidades a satisfacer, los factores 	sociales, técnicos, económicos, ambientales y administrativos considerados."

Spain adapted in 2006 European directives 85/337/CEE and 97/11/CE on the Stockholm and Rio U.N. Conferences fully establishing the Precautionary Principle and public participation in major projects:

	"La evaluación del impacto ambiental ha mostrado sus carencias cuando se trata de 	evitar o corregir los efectos ambientales en el caso de la toma de decisión de las fases 	anteriores a los proyectos. Esta ley introduce en la legislación española la 	evaluación ambiental estratégica como instrumento de prevención. Los fundamentos 	que informan la Directiva 2001/142/CE son el Principio de Cautela y la necesidad de 	protección del medio ambiente. Uno de los objetivos principales de esta Directiva, y 	así se recoge en esta ley, es el fomento de la transparencia y la participación ciudadana 	a través del acceso en plazos adecuados a una información exhaustiva y fidedigna del 	proceso planificador. Se ordena la forma en que se deberá evacuar el trámite de 	consultas, tanto ordinarias como transfronterizas, y se identifica al público interesado 	entre los que se hace mención expresa a las personas sin ánimo de lucro. Esta ley 	pretende que se garantice la transparencia y la participación."

This law adds a significant proviso on trans-frontier projects which cannot go ahead until consultations have concluded:

	"Los plazos previstos quedarán suspendidos hasta que concluyan las negociaciones del 	procedimiento de consultas transfronterizas. Finalizada la fase de consultas se 	elaborará una memoria ambiental. La memoria ambiental es preceptiva y se tendrá en 	cuenta en el plan o programa antes de su aprobación definitiva."

The Aarhus Convention was incorporated into Spanish law in 2006, with the fundamental role of interested parties as a way of legitimising public projects:

	"Persona interesada refuerza el mismo concepto ya recogido en la legislación 	administrativa con la atribución de esta condición en todo caso a aquellas personas 	jurídicas sin ánimo de lucro que se dedican a la protección del medio ambiente. Obliga 	a las Administraciones Públicas a informar e introduce una especie de acción popular 	cuyo ejercicio corresponde a las personas jurídicas sin ánimo de lucro dedicadas a la 	protección del medio ambiente que se hubieran constituido al menos dos años antes 	del ejercicio de la acción y desarrollen su actividad en el ámbito territorial afectado 	por el acto u omisión impugnados. La implantación del modelo de desarrollo 	sostenible depende en buena medida de la efectiva participación de la sociedad civil en 	el proceso político decisorio de tal manera que durante el debate hayan tenido en 	cuenta las informaciones y aportaciones que hayan podido realizar cualquier persona 	interesada y en el resultado final sean palpables y tangibles las preocupaciones y 	consideraciones de carácter ambiental. Esta idea expresamente recogida en la 	Declaración de Rio de Janeiro establece que la mejor manera de gestionar los asuntos 	ambientales es contar con la participación de todos los ciudadanos, encuentra su razón 	de ser última en la necesidad de avanzar hacia la transformación del modelo de 	desarrollo, basada en planteamientos democráticos que postulan la participación 	activa, real y efectiva de la sociedad civil como única vía para, en primer lugar, 	legitimar las decisiones que se hayan de adoptar y, en segundo lugar, garantizar su 	acierto y eficacia en el terreno práctico."

High tension pylons have a new regulation which must be in force by 2010. The right of way must be at least 100 metres from a motorway and 50 metres from a road or railway. This means that a parallel overhead line to the high speed train would not be able to use the same right of way, unlike an underground cable.

Further steps have also been taken to open up large projects to public participation. Among the criteria significant here is that a project tied to a larger project must be viewed as part of the greater project. Also the size of a project and its trans-frontier connections are of special concern. This is important because the strategy followed by REE has been to bypass the new European and Spanish legislation by dividing the European Priority Interconnection into three smaller sections, only one of which crosses the frontier. This has allowed the Spanish monopoly to go ahead on the first section without public consultation and indeed any discussion about the European interconnection. 

The Catalan government or Generalitat has exclusive responsibility for new power lines in Catalonia, except for interconnections. REE started the Spanish part of the European Priority Project with the Sentmenat-Bescanó section simply as an internal line in Catalonia providing power to Girona with no mention made of its international character and with the Generalitat also calling this a new line to Girona:

	"Nova alimentació elèctrica a Girona a 400 kV."

With the following characteristics, elaborated from table 3.1:
 
	Total distance of the line Sentmenat-Bescanó: 84,835 metres
	Population per km of line: 1,428
	2005 budget: 42,033,000 euros
	Investment per km of line: 495,468 euros
	Right of way per km of line: 46,362 m2
	Deforestation per km of line: 6,581 m2

It is no coincidence that the Spanish monopoly's bypass to the European Priority Project Sentmenat-Bescanó-Baixàs chose a low population route on NIMBY grounds, Not in My Back Yard, to avoid conflicts in densely populated Catalonia. As table 3.1 shows only 120,000 inhabitants are directly affected while forest devastation is five times larger. The high voltage line crosses a natural park with total impacts acknowledged by the Spanish central government as "severe" but not "critical" because there are no "viable alternatives":

Table 3.1 Area affected in the Sentmenat-Bescanó Section of the European Project

Municipality	Area
km2	Population
2007	Properties
Affected	Right of Way
m2 	Deforestation
m2	
Sentmenat	29	7,376	43	192,858	27,814	
Sant Llorenç Savall	41	2,313	10	134,802	10,752	
Caldes de Monbui	38	16,159	29	193,439	54,847	
Gallifa	16	224	29	158,866	28,116	
Sant Feliu de Codines	15	5,495	92	312,125	43,396	
Sant Quirze Safaja	26	629	29	180,424	15,136	
Sant Martí de Centelles	26	941	25	179,147	33,879	
Centelles	15	6,909	31	153,584	24,505	
Seva	30	3,191	40	264,750	19,816	
El Brull	41	227	17	60,916	3,100	
Taradell	27	5,864	10	112,664	11,809	
Sant Sadurní 
d'Osormort	
31	
86	
42	
475,872	
64,229	
Vilanova de Sau	59	329	13	167,126	22,345	
Folgueroles	11	2,058	36	211,619	10,985	
Tavèrnoles	19	310	15	71,750	17,536	
Vic	31	38,321	2	3,015	0	
Viladrau	51	1,036	3	77,194	11,659	
Sant Hilari Sacalm	83	5,520	18	357,273	50,231	
Sant Julià de Vilatorta	16	2,887	1	1,493	0	
Osor	52	372	6	112,208	20,859	
Santa Coloma de Farners	71	11,090	5	143,754	17,314	
Brunyola	37	365	8	119,194	14,876	
Anglès	16	5,281	22	102,193	24,756	
Bescanó	36	4,121	32	146,843	30,369	
Total 24 municipalities	815	121,104	558	3,933,109	558,329	

Source: Elaborated form IDESCAT, Departament de Treball i Indústria 2005 and 2006.

	"Criterio de alejar la línea el máximo posible de las poblaciones y utilizar el máximo 	las líneas eléctricas existentes. Los impactos negativos más significativos que derivan 	de la construcción y mantenimiento de la línea eléctrica son la afección a la 	vegetación, la avifauna, el paisaje y a la población. Ninguno de los impactos 	identificados en el estudio de impacto ambiental se califica como crítico pese a que la 	severidad de los impactos sobre Hábitats de Interés Comunitario no prioritario en los 	espacios de Les Guilleries y Savassona ha llevado a implementar importantes medidas 	correctoras y compensatorias. La ocupación territorial de las obras no afecta de forma 	apreciable estos espacios integrantes en Red Natura 2000 al tiempo que justifica la 	ausencia de alternativas viables que eviten pasar por esos espacios."

The "internal" line in Catalonia became an international connection once the environmental impact statement had been approved without going through the troublesome public debates of European and Spanish law. The Generalitat restated after the impact statement that the line was purely internal, nothing to do with France with which there was absolutely no contact:
	"El projecte esmentat no és transnacional, per la qual cosa no existeix en l'expedient 	administratiu cap comunicació amb l'Estat francés."

Six months later the central government took over the Sentmenat-Bescanó section without spelling out its European origin but now admitting the interconnection with France:

	"La finalidad de la instalación es:

	1) Mejorar la calidad y fiabilidad del suministro eléctrico a Girona.

	2) Mejorar el mallado de la red de transporte a 400 kV en Cataluña.

	3) Ser parte integrante de la interconexión con Francia a fin de incrementar la 	capacidad de intercambio de energía con este país y potenciar la conexión del sistema 	español a 400 kV con el sistema europeo a esta tensión.

	4) Alimentar el tren de alta velocidad en el tramo Barcelona-frontera francesa.

	5) Mejorar la incidencia social de la actual línea Pierola-Vic alejándola de los núcleos 	de población."

Point three of the central government resolution directly contradicts the pretence of the Catalan government that the Sentmenat-Bescanó section had nothing to do with Europe. The Spanish monopoly's bypass with the Sentmenat-Bescanó section lands exactly where it originally was as an integral part of the European Priority Electricity Interconnection Project Sentmenat-Bescanó-Baixàs.

3.4 Conclusions on the European Priority Project in Spain

The Spanish side of the European Interconnection has gone ahead without the public hearings held in France, but the public demonstrations and public concerns are identical as the biggest demonstration ever held in Girona shows. The absence of dialogue is an added setback which France avoided and as a consequence the top down approach has not been legitimised in Spain. Europe has promised to listen to these public concerns and European Coordinator Mario Monti wants to provide a satisfactory solution for all sides. Spain, unlike France, has a long tradition of antidemocratic and illiberal despotism. A democratic, free and progressive society needs a more participatory and open approach to public projects.

Mario Monti presented in Girona new proposals on the European line which the Spanish government grudgingly accepts, "enforced undergrounding" energy secretary Ignasi Nieto said. These new proposals by CESI contradict its previous studies. The French government is far from persuaded of the need for the project. The initial arguments for the interconnection were security and the high speed train. CESI had already shown that there are four alternatives that fully guarantee security renovating existing lines through the Pyrenees. The new report raises the spurious new argument of green energy peaks and troughs. After much hedging, CESI admits sufficient safeguards exist to avoid a surge or drop from wind farms and there is indeed no proof green energy requires extra security. CESI repeats the arguments of general security and integration but has dropped the high speed train proving that the high voltage line is not needed for the destabilizing AVE/TGV service.

The new CESI proposals give no quantitative numbers except those provided by the transmission monopolies, hardly an objective report. The European Project route has been arbitrarily cut down from Baixàs to Bescanó instead of to Sentmenat and undergrounding even further limited to the line crossing France and just over the Pyrenees, Baixàs-Santa Llogaia. Catalans in Spain are discriminated with unequal treatment for the same European Project.

Incomplete qualitative comparisons are provided between an overhead and an underground line in which it is clear undergrounding is less invasive, with zero visual and sound impacts, smaller right of way, overload capacity twenty times greater and hence more secure, no access roads or permanent ground clearing and indeed does not provoke forest fires, a major problem in the Mediterranean completely silenced in the report. This subjective list is complemented by cost comparisons showing undergrounding has half the operational costs, electricity losses are 2% of investment compared to 40% overhead and magnetic fields up to twelve times smaller. Underground cable costs have been now reduced, compared to previous CESI estimates, to as low as four times overhead lines, but 

	when all other costs are included of land use and magnetic fields, 	undergrounding costs the same as an overhead line. 

To show how competitive undergrounding is REE has operational since 2004 an underground cable in its home town of Madrid.

	European discrimination by European coordinator Mario Monti of the two 	Spanish sections of the European interconnection is unacceptable. What is valid 	for France and Madrid is also valid for Spanish Catalonia, since all are equally 	European citizens in this European Priority Project.

European law has incorporated the principle of public participation which precludes discrimination in energy projects: 

	1) The project must be socially cohesive and sustainable in the long run before any 	decision is taken.

	2) The project must be in agreement with the local population based on the principles 	of non-discrimination, free access to information, right of redress and the right of the 	European Union to enforce compliance of member nations:

	a) Non-discrimination

	b) Free access to information
 
	c) Right of redress

	d) Subsidiarity
 
	3) European projects cannot be judged differently in different sections: The European 	Priority Project EL3 is the entire Sentmenat-Bescanó-Baixàs line and not 	partial 	sections of this route.

	4) The project must apply the Precautionary Principle to all citizens without 	discrimination, in particular reference to electromagnetic fields, openly expressing 	risks as well as benefits:

	a) Non-discrimination

	b) Precautionary Principle

	c) Electromagnetic risks

The Aarhus Convention of 1998 is the guiding principle with the three pillars according to the European Parliament and the European Commission:

	First pillar: Access to information.
 
	Second pillar: Public participation in the decision.
 
	Third pillar: Right of redress. 

Spanish law has incorporated this European law over the past ten years:

	1) Non-discrimination: The Spanish Administration recognises it must function under 	the Rule of Law with 	equal treatment of all citizens under a democratic Constitution.

	2) Precautionary Principle: Incorporated into environmental impact statements. 	Important for the current project, major changes like undergrounding require a new 	environmental impact statement.

	3) Alternatives: Energy projects must present alternatives and economic and social 	effects must be analysed as well as environmental impacts.

	4) Interconnections: Trans-frontier projects cannot go ahead until all consultations 	have concluded.

	5) Interested parties: The right to be informed, to reasoned answers and to legal 	redress.

	6) Large projects: A project tied to a larger project must be viewed as a single project. 	Size and trans-frontier connections are also of special concern.

The REE strategy has been to bypass European and Spanish legislation by dividing the European Project into three sections only one of which crosses the frontier, allowing the Spanish monopoly to go ahead with the first "internal" section without the required public consultation or a definite decision from Europe on the route or technology.

The Catalan government or Generalitat has exclusive responsibility for power lines internal to Catalonia. REE obtained environmental impact statements of the first section by presenting Sentmenat-Bescanó as a local feed to Girona. The choice of route is NIMBY avoiding densely populated areas at the sacrifice of woodland with total impacts acknowledged by the Spanish central government as severe but not critical because there are no viable alternatives. That there are no viable alternatives is patently untrue when the European coordinator is considering a route parallel to the high speed line and a sea cable, plus the published evidence that renovating existing interconnections over the Pyrenees is sufficient.

The "internal" line in Catalonia became an international connection once the environmental impact statement had been approved bypassing the troublesome public debates of European and Spanish law. In 2007 the central government took over supervision for this Sentmenat-Bescanó section without spelling out its European origin but finally admitting the interconnection with France: 

	"An integral part of the interconnection with France in order to increase the 	capacity to exchange power with this country and to promote the connection of 	the Spanish 400 kV system to the European system of this tension."

The Spanish monopoly's bypass with the Sentmenat-Bescanó section lands exactly where it originally was as an integral part of the European Priority Electricity Interconnection Project Sentmenat-Bescanó-Baixàs.

Chapter 4: The Partial REE Project

4.1. The Girona Bottleneck

Spanish Energy Director Ignasi Nieto won the Societat Catalana d'Economia Award 2004 for his study with Joaquim Solà of the Spanish electrical sector. This study criticised the opacity of the sector and the "capture of the regulator" by the transmission monopoly REE:

	"No existeix el mètode de regulació yardstick competition. Quan el regulador estableix 	els costos acreditats del transport està fent unes suposicions que no les pot contrastar. 	No coneix si efectivament els costos que suposa són òptims o si en canvi són 	sobreestimats, la qual cosa podria passar a causa de la menor informació que disposa."

REE hides its costs but so do the electricity companies which operate effectively as local monopolies. In the case of Catalonia Endesa is the monopoly provider. Local distributors share in the ownership of the transmission network. The current structure in Spain is that REE manages the entire network but half the lines are owned by the electricity companies. This is a recipe for disaster as the Barcelona blackout of summer 2006 showed since neither REE nor Endesa accepted responsibility and the Government blamed both for the bad quality of the lines.

This prize winning study by Nieto and Solà also stated that there were no problems with the existing interconnections with France:

1) Interconnections cost more for England with France and Scotland than for Spain with France.

	2) Spain has no problems opening up to competition despite limited interconnections: 	"Si bé aquestes interconnexions estan limitades a la capacitat de les línies actuals 	d'interconnexió exterior que actualment no és gaire elevada, no hi ha cap impediment 	perquè no es doni aquesta competència exterior en el futur."

3) The electrical sector is not a monopoly, but certainly a duopoly in Catalonia and an oligopoly in Spain as a whole: "Descartant per motius obvis el monopoli i la competència perfecta l'oligopoli seria la definició més adequada."

Nieto and Solà study the quality of the high tension network in Catalonia for a double circuit 400 kV line:

	Maximum households at 4.5 kW average contract: 415,196
	Theoretical maximum power: 508.2 MW
	Practical maximum power: 1,868.4 MW
	Maximum distance per circuit: 300 kms.
The real problem they find is the huge imbalance in territorial distribution of power generation, especially serious for demand peaks in summer. There is also no adequate pricing structure at saturation to maintain investment in the quality of the lines.

In short, markets are not transparent enough to ensure adequate maintenance of lines, but current interconnections are not barriers to competition.

High voltage lines are not the real bottleneck in Catalonia. Generation is badly distributed, especially in Girona which imports 75% of its power. Transmission monopoly REE is aware that the Girona bottleneck is not in 400 kV lines but at lower levels. The threat of blackouts has nothing to do with the European Interconnection as REE president and former socialist agriculture minister Luis Atienza admits:

	"El debat sobre la interconnexió està enfosquint el de la necessitat elèctrica. No es té 	en compte que el problema d'alimentació a les comarques gironines és molt més 	urgent de resoldre."

He adds that the high speed train is much more elitist, destructive and destabilising, but it is overhead lines which have the problem of social acceptability:

	"El tren d'alta velocitat fractura completament el territori i a més l'utilitza poquíssima 	gent i molt de tant en tant. És un problema d'acceptabilitat social."

The regional director of electricity provider Endesa, Josep Maria Rovira, warns of future blackouts because of the uncontrolled growth of demand in Girona:

	"El creixement anual mitjà de la demanda d'energia a les comarques gironines creix 	300 MW anuals. Hem de ser conscients que estem en una situació límit i que Girona 	no pot crèixer més."

The problem is the lack of investment to meet the growth in demand rather than the European Interconnection. The delay in the European project has made urgent the updating of the Girona network as the central government ordered in 2007 to guarantee electricity supply in the short and medium term. The government has released the REE studies on which this order is based thanks to the 2006 freedom of information act incorporating the Aarhus Convention. 

For a demand growth of 5% a year and the high speed train requiring 90 MW and with 1,500 MW imported from France, at risk were the 132 kV lines Salt-La Roca and Vic-Olot and the 110 kV lines Sant Celoni-Aro and Sant Celoni-Sils as shown in the dotted black lines on table 4.1 in a seven year prediction from 2003. Placing a 400/110 kV transformer in Maçanet de la Selva would reduce the load 33% in the Sentmenat-Sant Celoni 220 kV and 19% in the Sant Celoni-Vic lines. This simple solution would eliminate potential risks to Girona. 

Table 4.1 Overloads Predicted in Girona

Note: 2003 prediction for summer 2010. Overloads black dotted lines.
Source: REE 2003.

In 2003 there was no talk by REE of a 400 kV European Interconnection Sentmenat-Baixàs via Bescanó or indeed of renovating the existing 400 kV interconnection Vic-Baixàs. The preferred route was through the Central Pyrenees which would provide sufficient guarantees for Girona. The real problem according to REE was that electricity could not be imported because of the poor state of the distribution network which needed urgent renovation:

	"Para garantizar un intercambio importador con Francia de 3.000 MW es necesaria la 	repotenciación de la línea Sant Celoni-Vic 220 kV para alcanzar una capacidad de 	transporte en verano de 260 MVA, siendo necesario un análisis de la red de 	distribución. La nueva conexión con el Pirineo Central permite reducir las sobrecargas 	observadas en la red de transporte aún con un mayor intercambio Francia-España 	(4.000 MW) ya que al fomentarse el apoyo desde Sentmenat a Sant Celoni 220 kV se 	reduce la carga en la línea Vic-Sant Celoni 220 kV, reduciéndose la necesidad de 	repotenciación. La interconexión por el Pirineo Central permite reducir las sobrecargas 	observadas en la red de distribución, siendo esta reducción más significativa en la 	zona de Figueres 132 kV. Por lo tanto se concluye el interés que para la red de Girona 	presenta la interconexión por el Pirineo Central España-Francia 400 kV al permitir un 	mejor reparto de las cargas en la red de transporte que conlleva la reducción de las 	sobrecargas observadas en dicha red y de forma menos significativa en la red de 	distribución."

To be able to export instead of import electricity from France, it is essential to renovate the 220, 132 and 110 kV lines to prevent blackouts due to the bad state of the distribution network:

	"En escenarios exportadores se observan elevadas sobrecargas en la red de transporte, 	incluso en situación de disponibilidad total, que afecta a la red de 220 kV Vic-Palau-	Sentmenat. Para evitar dichas sobrecargas sería necesaria la repotenciación de todo el 	eje de 220 kV. El fallo de los dobles circuitos de 400 kV en Girona da lugar a que la 	red de distribución, al haberse modelado mallada, realice funciones de transporte por 	lo que se observan sobrecargas cercanas al 160% en la red de 110 kV y 132 kV que 	une Girona con Barcelona y en la red de 132 kV en la zona norte de Girona. Por tanto 	resulta necesario un análisis de la red de distribución. La interconexión con el Pirineo 	Central con Francia permite reducir las sobrecargas observadas en la red de transporte. 	Sin embargo sigue siendo necesaria la repotenciación de la red de 220 kV."

The improvement in the Girona network was necessary because of the growth in demand in Girona and because of the interconnection through the Central Pyrenees to France according to REE. When Spain exports overloads exceed permissible limits in Girona making the renovation of existing lines doubly necessary:

	"En el presente informe se confirma la necesidad de repotenciación de la red de 	transporte de Girona que, principalmente en escenarios de exportación, se sobrecarga 	muy por encima de los límites admisibles. Por otra parte se observa que la 	interconexión por el Pirineo Central con Francia permite reducir considerablemente 	las sobrecargas en la red de transporte de Cataluña. Las necesidades de repotenciación 	deberán ir acompañadas de nuevos desarrollos de red de 220 kV."

This 2003 REE document released through the freedom of information act of 2006 clearly states that the best option is an interconnection through the Central Pyrenees and also that whatever the outcome of the international project renovating existing lines in Girona is essential because of the poor state of the local network:

	1) The 400 KV interconnection through the Central Pyrenees is preferred.

	2) Renovating 110, 132 and 220 kV lines is essential whatever the outcome of the 	interconnection with France.

	3) Renovating the 220 kV lines is doubly necessary to be able to export to France.

	4) The local distribution network owned by Endesa needs urgent investment.

The Spanish government belittles these conclusions in the accompanying letter releasing the REE study:

	"Es un documento que se ha visto superado en algunos aspectos, lo que se hace notar."

Three further REE documents updating the situation are also included in the 2007 government order for urgent investment in the Girona network. The 2003 REE paper is used as background material from page one of the REE rewrites which now states clearly that the main objective is the interconnection with France, with the added objectives of reinforcing the Girona network and stabilising the high speed train. 

The electricity demand predictions for 2011 in 27 Girona substations are shown in table 4.2. The high speed train, yet to have a date of service, is the sole user of the new 400 KV line which shows that the Girona network has problems other than importing electricity. But the high speed train provokes up to 28% of the instability in the Girona electricity supply despite consuming no more than 7% of the power in Girona. The question is why should the high speed train provoke extra costs to Girona consumers. The best technical solution is to feed the high speed train with 90/132 kV cables buried near the track as was chosen initially for the Paris-Strasbourg TGV and is the long practice in Japanese bullet trains. Nor does it make much sense why the electrictry supply for trains should not be the responsibility of the train company as SNCF in France or SBB in Switzerland, except that transmission monopolies want to maintain their monopoly rights for financial reason since this way they obtain train funds to build electrical lines.

The delays in the European Interconnection are dealt in a scenario where, without the new line, import capacity from France is 700 MW lower, the Juià-Bescanó 220 kV line would not be built, the Vic-Bescanó 220 kV line would no longer be disconnected for security reasons and the 220 kV lines to Barcelona, Vic-Sant Celoni-Sentmenat and Vic-Franqueses-Palau-Sentmenat, would have to be renovated. Renovating the two 220 kV lines and not disconnecting the third makes sense given the state of the Girona network with the blackouts predicted in the previous REE report of table 4.1.

Renovation and upgrading of lines can easily be done in Girona In a ground inspection several 132 kV lines were found already equipped with 400 kV isolators. Simply changing conductors would increase by 40-60% transmission. The transmission monopoly REE criticises local distribution monopoly Endesa for the "inadmissible" state of its network:

1) Inadmissible subtensions in six 110 kV and one 132 kV junctions in Lloret, Palafrugell, La Bisbal, Aro, Bellcaire and Cassà.

Table 4.2 Demand Prediction in Girona

	110 kV	132 kV	400 kV1	Total
2011	
Substations	14	11	2	27	
P(MW)2
Winter:
Peak	

572	

519	

63	

1,164	
Valley	253	193	30	476	
Summer:
Peak	
611	
485	
63	
1,159	
Valley	222	151	30	403	

Q (MVAR)3
Winter:
Peak	

143	

106	

63	

279	
Valley	43	36	30	109	
Summer:
Peak	
198	
133	
63	
361	
Valley	59	42	30	131	

Notes: (1) No variations between winter and summer because all demand ascribed to the high speed train with its high reactive power use.
	(2) P (MW): power ratio to transformation capacity
	(3) Q (MVAR): value to rephase line back to stability. MVAR: Mega Volt Ampere Reactive.
Source: Elaborated from REE 2006d with data from Endesa and Adif.

Table 4.3 Inadmissible Overloads in the Endesa Girona Network Despite the New Interconnection

Inadmissible Hotspots	Capacity
MVA	Most Unfavourable
Event	Overload	
110 kV lines:
Cassà-Juià	
129	
Lloret-Tordera	
177%	
Aro-Cassà	129	Lloret-Tordera	157%	
Bellcaire-Juià	93	Aro-Palafrugell	145%	
Aro-Lloret	93	Cassà-Juià	137%	
Lloret-Tordera	180	Cassà-Juià	116%	
Aro-Palafrugell	93	Bellcaire-Juià	129%	
Tordera-Riudarenes (1+2)	129	Tordera-Riudarenes (2+1)	140%	
Mas Xirgu-Juià	93	Riudarenes 400/110 kV	128%	

132 kV lines:
Llançà-Santa Llogaia	

95	

Torre del Vent-Santa Llogaia	

118%	
Torre del Vent-Santa Llogaia	95	Llançà-Santa Llogaia	116%	
Juià-Santa Llogaia (1+2)	95	Santa Llogaia 400/132 kV	112%	

Transformers:
Juià 220/110 kV	

100	

Juià 220/110 kV	

165%	
Juià 132/110 kV	60	Juià 132/110 kV	193%	

Source: REE 2006d.
2) Inadmissible loads of 95% in the Juià-Bellcaire 100 kV line and 94% in the Juià-Cassà 110 kV line "lo cual es indicativo de la necesidad de reforzar la red de distribución en Girona."

	3) Inadmissible overloads as listed in table 4.3. 

REE concludes on Endesa's "inadmissible" network that the distribution monopoly is solely responsible for its poor state in Girona:

"La red de distribución presenta un elevado número de sobrecargas inadmisibles. No obstante corresponde a Endesa como gestor de la red de distribución de Girona confirmar estos resultados y realizar los desarrollos en la red de distribución."

Once the European Interconnection with France is established, exchange capacity will rise from 1,900 MW to 3,000 MW leading to inadmissible overloads in the 400/220 kV transformer in Juià. REE again complains, presumably about Endesa, that it does nothing to build a new 220/132 kV transformer in Bescanó despite being needed for a long time:

	"Si bien históricamente se ha considerado el apoyo a la red de distribución mediante 	una unidad de transformación 220/132 kV (200 MVA) desde Bescanó no se ha 	formalizado la preceptiva solicitud de acceso de dicha unidad."

In the short and medium term, with no new interconnection with France, REE finds overloads in the Vic-Juià 220 kV line which can be overcome by renovating the Bescanó-Juià 220 kV line although not a long term solution:

	"La repotenciación de este DC al límite estimado permitiría eliminar dichas 	sobrecargas. Sin embargo esta actuación no supone una acción de largo plazo puesto 	que el incremento de demanda de Girona supondría llevar a cabo nuevas actuaciones 	adicionales." 

In fact the French interconnection will be used by REE as a substitute to investing in the Bescanó 220 kV substation:

	"Retrasar la puesta en servicio de la futura subestación Bescanó 220 kV: una vez 	realizada la interconexión con Francia una segunda unidad de transformación no es 	necesaria."

REE does not proceed because Endesa has made no move to connect their distribution network:

	"No se ha considerado el apoyo a la red de 132 kV desde Bescanó 220 kV dado que 	aún no ha sido formalizada la preceptiva solicitud de acceso por parte de Endesa."

Without the new interconnection high loads are carried by the 110 kV lines Juià-Bellcaire (91%) and Juià-Cassà (85%) as well as the Juià 220/110 kV transformer showing that the Girona network needs reinvestment as REE again stresses:
	"Lo cual es indicativo de la necesidad de reforzar la red de distribución en Girona."

Without the new interconnection overloads are found in the list of lines shown in table 4.4. The overloads are similar to the previous table for overloads with the new interconnection. Both tables show that the new interconnection does not solve Girona's problems which are the bad quality of the current distribution network. Overloads will occur whatever happens with the European Project. REE exploits the delay in order not to do anything to improve the Girona network except stopgap patches: 

"El retraso de la subestación Bescanó 220 kV permite reducir la sobrecarga máxima observada en la red de 220 kV. Por lo tanto en caso de resultar inviable la repotenciación del DC Vic-Juià 220 kV o resultar un nivel de capacidad de transporte inferior a lo esperado (380 MVA de capacidad en verano) se debe retrasar la puesta en servicio de Bescanó 220 kV hasta la puesta en servicio de la nueva interconexión planificada con Francia."

Table 4.4 Inadmissible Overloads in the Endesa Girona Network Without the New Interconnection

Inadmissible Hotspots	Capacity
MVA	Most Unfavourable
Event	Overload	
110 kV lines:
Cassà-Juià	
129	
Lloret-Tordera	
178%	
Aro-Cassà	129	Lloret-Tordera	157%	
Bellcaire-Juià	93	Aro-Palafrugell	146%	
Aro-Lloret	93	Cassà-Juià	147%	
Lloret-Tordera	180	Cassà-Juià	122%	
Aro-Palafrugell	93	Bellcaire-Juià	133%	
Tordera-Riudarenes (1+2)	129	Tordera-Riudarenes (2+1)	121%	
Sant Celoni-Tordera (1+2)	96	Riudarenes-Vic 400 kV
Riudarenes-Bescanó 400 kV	
107%	

132 kV lines:
Llançà-Santa Llogaia	

95	

Torre del Vent-Santa Llogaia	

119%	
Torre del Vent-Santa Llogaia	95	Llançà-Santa Llogaia	117%	
Juià-Santa Llogaia (1+2)	95	Santa Llogaia 400/132 kV	107%	

Transformers:
Juià 220/110 kV	

100	

Juià 220/110 kV	

143%	
Juià 132/110 kV	60	Juià 132/110 kV	163%	

Source: REE 2006d.

The delays are forcing REE's hand into investing in Girona but doing so in a way that does not provide a definitive answer in order to keep the pressure up for the European Interconnection:

	"Debido al retraso de las actuaciones planificadas en la red de transporte de Girona 	resultan necesarios refuerzos urgentes que ayuden a paliar la situación crítica de la 	demanda de Girona:

	1) Necesidad de repotenciación de DC Vic-Juià 220 kV como actuación urgente. 	Mitigaría a corto plazo la crítica situación de suministro a la que se enfrenta la 	alimentación de Girona y, a medio plazo, en caso que la futura interconexión con 	Francia se retrase eliminaría la limitación que sufre este circuito ante el fallo conjunto 	de las líneas Vic-Riudarenes 400 kV y Bescanó-Sentmenat 400 kV. La repotenciación 	podría producir un incremento de la capacidad de transporte de unos 130 MVA por 	circuito, pasando en verano de 250 MVA a 380 MVA. La repotenciación sí resulta 	beneficiosa puesto que permitiría incrementar significativamente el número de 	escenarios en que el fallo de uno de los circuitos no supondría sobrecargar el otro, 	incrementando por tanto la seguridad del suministro.

	2) La compactación de Bescanó-Juià 400 kV con el DC Bescanó-Juià 220 kV y 	Ramis-Santa Llogaia 400 kV con el DC Juià-Santa Llogaia 132 kV resulta 	desaconsejable ya que se reconfiguraría una red menos fiable al favorecerse los fallos 	múltiples. En todo caso REE considera inadmisible la compactación hasta la 	realización de la futura interconexión con Francia.

	3) Los resultados en cuanto a la red de distribución pone de manifiesto la necesidad de 	llevar a cabo futuros desarrollos con objeto de paliar las sobrecargas y subtensiones 	que se han detectado. Endesa como gestor de la red de distribución de Girona deberá 	confirmar estos resultados y efectuar aquellas actuaciones que considere oportuno.

	4) La ubicación propuesta para la nueva compensación de reactiva mediante 	condensadores de 200 MVAR es la subestación Sant Celoni 220 kV. La definición de 	esta ubicación se basa en su influencia en la red, tanto en el corto como en el medio y 	largo plazo."

REE also lists all the investments Endesa should have done and hasn't to renovate its own Girona network, basically in order to have significantly better maintenance and more green power generation:

	1) "Ampliaciones de potencia de subestación 132-110/MD. Efecto: eliminación de 	contingencias transformación.

	2) Mantenimiento elementos críticos. Efecto: reducción probabilidad fallo Vic-Juià 	220 kV y transformaciones 220/132-110 kV de Vic-Juià y Sant Celoni.

	3) Producible hidráulico El Pasteral (Ter) al máximo: 130 MW a través de Osona-Mas 	Xirgu 110 kV.

	4) Cogeneradores: 114 MW.

	5) Reducción carga grandes clientes: Existen 8 con una potencia superior a 5 MW (71 	MW total).

	6) Plan de contingencias: transformadores de reserva fría 220/132/110 kV 200 MVA, 	132/110/25/11 kV 40 MVA."

Blackout risks in the Girona network would be minimised with all these measures both by REE and Endesa to upgrade, bring in new power generation and maintain the system:

	"La compensación y repotenciación permiten mejorar la situación de alto riesgo 	observada. También permite mejorar la respuesta de la red ante el fallo más 	desfavorable. Estas medidas no resuelven la problemática de Girona en el medio-largo 	plazo. Sólo permiten retrasar la situación crítica ya observada en la situación actual."
The impossible situation of REE having to undertake urgent measures, together with Endesa, which could delay indefinitely and no longer justify the European Interconnection has led to great disarray in the whole investment process, external and internal, for the Girona network:

1) External disarray: REE has gone ahead with the first section of the European 	Project without waiting for the European decision on the route and technology with 	the excuse it is exclusively internal to Girona. Quite false as the released REE 	documents prove which all are centred, for Girona, on the interconnection with 	France. These documents show that the legal slight of hand revealed earlier of an 	internal Girona connection later morphed into an external interconnection with France was quite deliberate.

2) Internal disarray: The oligopoly situation in Girona (and Catalonia) of investment 	in the network being the double responsibility of REE and Endesa has led to no 	responsibility at all. Endesa in particular is not doing enough to renovate an outdated 	system and REE undertakes the minimum palliative measures to avoid a blackout. The market is non-competitive and it is impossible for new carriers, or even generators, to provide power given the bad state of the Girona network. Perhaps this is the real reason for the underinvestment, a very effective trade barrier to the entry of real competition.

4.2 The Sentmenat-Bescanó Section

REE has gone ahead with the Spanish sections of the European Project presenting them simply as an improvement for Girona with no mention they are part of a bigger project, although mentioning France could not be entirely avoided given the existing interconnection Vic-Baixàs:

	"Los estudios de planificación de REE han puesto de manifiesto desde hace tiempo la 	necesidad de la construcción de una nueva alimentación eléctrica a Girona y su 	entorno. Se realizará desde dos puntos independientes (Sentmenat y Vic), el segundo 	de los cuales está enlazado con el sistema eléctrico francés mediante la línea Vic-	Baixàs. REE, con el fin de mejorar la calidad y seguridad de suministro de la zona 	nordeste de la península tiene prevista la construcción de la nueva alimentación 	eléctrica a Girona en 400 kV."

REE admits the Catalan government had demanded renovating lines before starting on a new overhead corridor:

	"Antes de planear nuevos corredores de líneas aéreas se deberán agotar todas las 	medidas que permitan incrementar la capacidad de las líneas existentes que son las 	siguientes: doble circuito, aumento de la tensión y cambio de conductor.

As has been proven in the previous section, based on REE internal documents, the Spanish monopoly has not done any renovation of the Girona network except stopgap measures. The first page of the Supreme Court documents handed in by REE in the complaint by AMMAT and IAEDEN shows that the official permit demanded to the Catalan government by REE admitted that the first section Sentmenat-Bescanó had to do with France:

	"Mejora de la fiabilidad de la interconexión con Francia e incremento de la capacidad 	de intercambio de energía con este país."

Despite this admission, which required an environmental impact statement submitted to the central government, the Catalan government accepted the project although questioning why the new laws on the Aarhus Convention were not being applied by the central government:

	"Cal que el Ministeri de Medi Ambient es pronuncïi sobre si les noves normes legals 	que han entrat recentment en vigor (Llei 9/2006 i Llei 27/2006) li són d'aplicació al 	trámit."

The REE also ignored the Catalan Government's recommendations of the alternatives of doubling Vic-Baixàs 400 kV or a new line following the high speed train after Bescanó:

	"Posant en marxa un segon circuit de la línia existent a 400 kV Vic-França o bé 	construint una nova línia entre Bescanó i la frontera francesa seguint el traçat del Tren 	d'Alta Velocitat."

The Catalan government energy plan wants to reduce imports by finding the right balance between interconnections, building new generating power, renovating the network and applying the Precautionary Principle on electromagnetism from an overhead line:

	"Per cobrir la potència punta es requereix un saldo d'importació d'uns 1.000 MW, 15% 	del total. És convenient reduir aquest saldo importador mitjançant la instal.lació de 	noves centrals productores i l'increment de la capacitat d'interconnexió sota un 	equilibri raonable entre més centrals i més interconnexió. Així mateix les xarxes de 	transport i distribució juntament amb la transformació han de garantir el 	subministrament al mercat amb una adequada qualitat del servei. Abans de planejar 	nous corredors de línies aèries caldrà exhaurir totes les mesures que permeten 	incrementar la capacitat de les línies existents (doble circuit, increment de tensió, 	canvi de conductor). Es recomana actuar segons el principi de la limitació prudent, 	Prudent Avoidance, que implica limitar l'exposició fins allà on sigui raonable o el 	principi de tan baix com sigui raonablemnet possible, As Low As Reasonably 	Achievable. "

In fact imported electricity from interconnections is planned to remain stagnant because of new combined cycle power stations and wind farms: 

	"En entrar en funcionament noves centrals de cicle combinat i de règim especial 	aquest saldo importador disminueix. L'any 2010 continuaria havent un saldo 	importador de potència similar al de l'any 1999 i un lleuger excedent d'energia 	d'exportació. "

After the setback of the public debate in France which made RTE study alternatives to the 400 kV line, REE issued a paper on the current route which reveal four viable alternatives for all Girona needs and security:

	First REE alternative: Increase interconnection with the rest of Spain: "La 	situación de desequilibrio entre generación y demanda en algunas de las zonas 	fronterizas no debe interpretarse como déficit en el balance del sistema eléctrico 	español. Un eventual déficit en alguna región española se compensará con un 	aumento de generación en otra. Dado el déficit de generación-demanda previsto en 	Cataluña el reparto también es desequilibrado, la generación se concentra en la zona 	sur y la demanda hacia el norte. Esta situación se intensifica en la zona de Girona 	donde no hay medios de producción pero la demanda crece año en año."

	Second REE alternative: New generation in Girona: "Instalar nueva generación 	térmica en Girona y construir la red de evacuación que precisen estas nuevas 	centrales."

	Third REE alternative: Double the existing Vic-Baixàs 400 kV line: REE uses the 	same arguments against as already apply to the current project showing it is a viable 	alternative: "Existiendo el riesgo de que la ejecución de los trabajos se complique 	(tramitaciones y/o oposición social) provocando importantes retrasos. El paso es de 	dudosa viabilidad al haberse declarado espacios naturales protegidos en su trazado." 	Sentmenat-Bescanó has strong opposition, the line crosses nature preserves and 	destroys one million trees which does not happen doubling the existing Vic-Baixàs. 
	
	Fourth REE alternative: Recover the Central Pyrenees route: "La construcción de 	un nuevo DC por el Pirineo Central (Graus-Cazaril o Muruarte-Marsillon) sí permitiría 	el objetivo de alcanzar una capacidad de intercambio comercial alrededor de 2.800 	MW."

Three further alternatives are in central government plans, through Andorra and through the Western Pyrenees and renovating the Girona network:
	Fifth Spanish government alternative: Transform the Andorra line to 220 kV: "La 	interconexión con Andorra, actualmente mediante un doble circuito de 110 kV, se 	prevé desarrollar mediante la transformación a 220 kV. Establecerá un nuevo eje de 	220 kV España-Andorra-Francia que, aunque moderadamente, contribuye al 	incremento de la capacidad de interconexión." 

	Sixth Spanish government alternative: New 400 kV line through the Western Pyrenees: 	"Construcción de una línea DC 400 kV por la zona ooccidental del Pirineo. Consiste 	en un nuevo corredor con una línea de doble circuito de 400 kV con objeto de mallar 	la red de 400 kV de los sistemas español y francés."

	Seventh Spanish government alternative: Renovate the Girona network: Despite 	admitting the critical situation in Girona in its 2008 plan, there are no investments 	for Girona although stating new generation is required. Both Barcelona and Girona are 	among the six regions identified with a weak network: "Son las que actualmente se 	encuentran en una situación más debilitada con respecto al mantenimiento dentro de 	límites de parámetros como la tensión que podría descender a valores no admisibles 	para la operación del sistema en situaciones futuras de elevada demanda ante fallos de 	elementos críticos produciendo una caída generalizada de las tensiones que derivaría 	en aplicación de interrumpibilidad."

There are therefore seven viable alternatives according to REE and the Spanish government to the Sentmenat-Bescanó line, apart from technical alternatives which would of necessity require a different route with undergrounding or a sea cable. None of these nine alternatives has been considered by REE before going ahead with the line. In fact government energy planner CNE in its 2008 report goes so far as to conclude that current energy capacity is sufficient to cover all extreme cases in the most conservative estimates:

	"No se observan indicios de situaciones que pudieran afectar a la cobertura de la 	demanda eléctrica en el escenario de demanda extremo bajo hipótesis conservadoras."

Which make even more difficult to understand REE's rush to build the Spanish sections of the European Interconnection when there are nine other alternatives which have not been studied and sufficient capacity exists today for all security and demand concerns in Spain. 

Moreover REE admits the route chosen crosses protected nature preserves of the Sistema Transversal Català, but argues this is not significant despite the many access roads to the pylons and the tree cutting of the right of way:

	"Todos los caminos de acceso discurren por espacios pertenecientes al PEIN que así 	mismo se incluyen en la Red Natura 2000. Los espacios naturales protegidos que 	resultarán afectados por los caminos de acceso son: 

	1. Els Cingles del Bertí, catalogado como Lugar de Importancia Comunitaria y Zona 	de Especial Protección para las Aves.
	2. Savassona, catalogado como Lugar de Importancia Comunitaria y Zona de Especial 	Protección para las Aves.

	3. Les Guilleries, catalogado como Lugar de Importancia Comunitaria y Zona de 	Especial Protección para las Aves.

	Los Hábitats de Interés Comunitario afectados por el trazado de los accesos son 	bosques de Castanea Sativa, encinares de Quercus ilex y Quercus rotundifolia, pinares 	mediterráneos de pinos meosogeanos y pendientes rocosas silíceas con vegetación 	casmofítica. La ocupación de nuevos terrenos producirá una afección directa sobre la 	vegetación de la zona en atravesar suelos de carácter forestal. El impacto sobre la 	fauna se puede dar por la destrucción y alteración de los diferentes hábitats."

These "residual" impacts according to REE, that is which remain permanently, "could be important" with "disappearance" of vegetation cover, the "punctual importance" of migratory birds, local population affected, "important" access road erosion and "notable" de-naturalisation of the environment:

	"Una vez finalizada la fase de construcción, ya en la fase de explotación, van a 	quedar modificados algunos componentes del entorno con respecto a la situación 	inicial del mismo. Los impactos residuales principales:

	1) Importante impacto paisajístico: La afección paisajística puede ser importante 	debido a la compleja orografía general de los terrenos cruzados. Además la densa y 	rica vegetación forestal de toda la zona y en particular del espacio de interés natural de 	Les Guilleries contribuye a aumentar el impacto paisajístico de la línea.

	2) Desaparición de la cubierta arbórea: La corta de arbolado puede suponer la 	desaparición de la cubierta arbórea en una serie de calles que deben mantenerse para la 	seguridad de la línea.

	3) Importante afección para las aves migratorias: Importancia puntual para las aves 	migratorias de las zonas culminales de contacto entre Les Guilleries y el Montseny.

	4) Afección a la población: Se va a producir básicamente en los residentes en el 	entorno más cercano a la línea y se deriva de la propia presencia de la misma o del 	ruido que ésta genera.

	5) Suelo desprotegido en todo el tramo: Se tienen en cuenta las labores de 	mantenimiento de la línea y sobre todo la presencia de las calles, que dejan el suelo 	desprotegido prácticamente en todo el tramo circulando sobre suelo forestal arbolado. 	En este caso la apertura de calles será importante debido a que se atraviesan extensas 	zonas forestales. Es un impacto notable, negativo, sinérgico, permanente, se 	manifiesta a corto plazo y tiene carácter continuo (cursiva en el original).

	6) Notable desnaturalización del paisaje: El trazado atraviesa elementos de especial 	singularidad como Serra del Farrell, Cingles de Bertí, afloramientos de margas 	azuladas de la Plana Ausetana, cortados de Savassona, bosques de Espinelves, 	Guilleries, Sant Hilari o las formaciones de ribera de Riera Major, Castanyet, Osor. 	En esta circunstancia en la que el elemento más reseñable del paisaje es su naturalidad, 	la instalación de una línea eléctrica lo altera de una forma significativa."

The Environmental Impact Statement by REE admits that this line, which produces such severe impacts, crosses a crucial sedentary and migratory bird corridor: 

	"Debido a su ubicación geográfica, Les Guilleries representa un corredor de conexión 	para la avifauna entre las estribaciones pirenaicas y el macizo del Montseny. Además 	al norte de Les Guilleries los cortados del río Ter son una importante zona de 	nidificación de rapaces. Y finalmente estas áreas forestales también acogen 	poblaciones de rapaces forestales como el azor o el gavilán. Por otra parte en otras 	zonas del ámbito se ven afectados otros corredores de paso de aves, perpendiculares a 	la traza. Por todo esto la probabilidad de colisión con especies de avifauna catalogadas 	es bastante elevada."

4.3 The Affected Parties

4.3.1 REE's Misinformation

Curiously local electricity distribution monopoly Fecsa-Endesa complains that the transmission monopoly REE fails to provide enough information to evaluate correctly the project:

	"Cal per tant insistir en la necessitat de l'aportació de projectes més complerts tal com 	indiquem abans per tal d'avaluar correctament tota la situació."

Misinformation starts with the title of the project denounces the municipality of Bescanó, with REE failing to fulfil Spanish technical norms on the objective and content. The title purports to be a feed for Girona but Girona requirements are shown to be only 22% and in future at most one third of the new line. Up to 78% of the new capacity installed is not explained by the project, obviously because the Sentmenat-Bescanó line is not to cover Girona demand, but part of a much bigger European Interconnection:

	"La norma espanyola UNE 157001 Criterios Generales para la Elaboración de 	Proyectos de febrer 2002 elaborada pel comité AEN/CTN 157 Proyectos en l'apartat 	4.1 indica: "Todo proyecto debe tener un título que ha de expresar de forma clara e 	inequívoca el producto, obra, instalación, servicio o software objeto del mismo." Cal 	esmentar que el títol del projecte no reflecteix de manera fidedigna els objectius i els 	continguts doncs d'acord amb l'apartat 1 de la Memòria Antecedentes y Finalidad de la 	Instalación s'inclou: "Mejora de la fiabilidad de la Interconexión con Francia e 	incremento de la capacidad de intercambio de energía con este país. Permitirá la 	alimentación del tren de alta velocidad en el tramo Barcelona-frontera francesa;" i 	d'acord amb l'apartat 2.3 Capacidsd de transporte en el document Cálculos la 	capacitat de transport és d'entre 1.943 Mva i 2.265 Mva. Les dades de les necessitats 	energètiques de la província de Girona disponibles xifren en un màxim de 500 Mva i 	en futur llunyà valors que no superen els 750 Mva."
Many affected parties add that the REE title also misleads because a 400 kV very high tension line does not improve the distribution problems at medium and low voltage in Girona, does not improve security and is unnecessary to renovate existing lines as is required. In fact the only credible use is for the Sentmenat-Bescanó line is the European Interconnection not discussed in the partial REE project whose route and technology is not yet final. The section should not proceed ahead of the entire project:

	"Si per millora la companyia promotora entén l'augment de la qualitat de 	subministrament és imprescindible tenir molt clara la diferència que existeix entre la 	xarxa de distribució a mitja i baixa tensió i la de transport a alta i molt alta tensió. Cal 	saber que la mala qualitat de subministrament a les comarques gironines es deu a la 	deficient xarxa de distribució i no a la necessitat de noves línies de transport. Aquesta 	línia no suposarà en absolut una millora del mallat ja que en el seu tram entre Vic i 	Bescanó quedarà en antena, és a dir no es creuarà amb cap altra. Els desplaçaments de 	línies ja existents no només no precisa de la construcció d'una nova línia sinó que és 	una obligació de l'empresa explotadora. La única finalitat de les exposades al projecte 	que és creible és l'augment de la capacitat d'Interconnexió. Resultaria doncs delirnat 	que s'autoritzés aquest projecte executiu i que se li atorgués la Declaracióo d'Utilitat 	Pública quan encara l'Administració no s'ha pronunciat sobre el futur de la 	Interconnexió ni sobre el seu traçat. En coherència doncs és necessari deixar en 	suspens l'aprovació del projecte executiu fins que la resta del traçat fins a Baixàs hagi 	passat per totes les fases de tramitació."

REE has not only ignored Europe and lied repeatedly about the project but also refused to talk to the local elected representatives who best know their territory: 

	"REE nunca ha querido mantener ningún tipo de contacto con este ayuntamiento o sus 	representantes, ni se ha dignado dar ningún tipo de explicaciones al respecto, ni 	tampoco nunca ha venido nadie en representación de REE para explicar el trazado 	propuesto y menos todavía explicar la necesidad de construir la nueva línea. En una 	sociedad democrática como la nuestra consideramos que no se puede dar luz verde y 	autorizar un proyecto de estas magnitudes y que comportará un impacto visual y una 	pérdida de calidad paisajística del entorno sin querer escuchar las demandas o las 	propuestas de los ayuntamientos implicados que son los que mejor conocen el 	territorio y que se verán obligados a responder frente a sus conciudadanos de las 	actuaciones realizadas por REE. No se puede prescindir de forma tan clara del diálogo 	entre REE y los ayuntamientos implicados para buscar soluciones consensuadas por 	las dos partes y no el imponer criterios y decisiones unilaterales como está sucediendo 	en este caso. A pesar de todas las demandas presentadas y perfectamente justificadas 	nunca se ha demostrado la menor intención de modificar o mejorar un solo milímetro 	del trazado propuesto."

The gross behaviour of REE in go it alone planning is shown by the contemptuous treatment of the birthplace of the historical home of Catalonia's first president of modern times, Prat de la Riba, where he was married:

	"La Finca del Sarrà és de les finques més emblemàtiques de Catalunya ja que fou la 	casa pairal de Maria Sarrà i Rosàs, mare d'Enric Prat de la Riba, president de la 	Diputació de Barcelona i creador de la Mancomunitat Catalana de la qual fou primer 	president. A la seva capella es va casar el dia 1 de maig de 1905."

4.3.2 A Deficient Project

The commercial forest owners of Consorci Forestal de Catalunya point out the new line does nothing to improve electricity service nor is it needed for the high speed train as France but also Spain show with 220 kV lines used in the Seville and Barcelona tracks to Madrid. Compacting lines is also a bad excuse. If the European Interconnection is the real reason for this section, the project must be presented in its entirety:

	1. Does not improve distribution: "La línia de 400 kV que es proposa no és cap 	garantia de que el subministrament millori doncs després cal trasnformara i distribuir l	'electricitat, essent aquí la veritable font de problemes als usuaris."

	2. France and Spain do not use 400 kV lines for the high speed train: RTE de França 	reconeix obertament que no és imprescindible una línia de 400 kV per a subminstrar el 	tren d'alta velocitat. Afegir que la línia del tren d'alta velocitat de Saragossa i la de 	Sevilla en part del seu recorregut és subministrat per 220 kV."

	3. Renovation is a bad excuse: "Tampoc és necessari i imprescindible la creació d'una 	línia d'alta tensió a 400 kV per tal de compactar. És una excusa per aconseguir el 	vistiplau del prpojecte, res més."

	4. The European Interconnection requires a single project: "Si un dels objectius o 	necessitats passa en tot cas per la millora de la confiança de la Interconnexió amb 	França és del tot necessari presentar una autorització administrativa i en definitiva un 	projecte d'execució conjunt que cobreixi tots els trams de la línia pretesa, és a dir fins 	arribar a la frontera francesa. La visió en conjunt d'aquest projecte podria comportar la 	necessitat que el traçat passés per altres zones del territori. Per altra banda la 	Interconnexió ha de quedar totalment garantida, garantia que s'ha d'assolir entre altres 	coses amb l'aprovació del projecte en conjunt."

Moreover access roads have not been studied, because REE admits it does not have the data but cynically states new access roads through mature forests are positive for the environment. The Consorci Forestal de Catalunya also complains about the low level of compensations so that REE is getting land for free paying just 0.5% of the investment in expropriations:

	5. Access roads not included in the project: "L'Estudi d'Impacte Ambiental ha estat 	elaborat de forma poc rigorosa en reconèixer que no es disposaven de dades en 	relació als accesos i infraestructures a realitzar."

	6. A positive destruction of the environment: "Considerar com a positiu l'impacte 	relatiu a la construcció d'accesos i infraestructures constitueix una clara mostra de 	l'error del que s'ha partit, com també ho és assenyalar com a compatibles -malgrat la 	gravetat que sobre els espais forestals de Les Guilleries l'execucóo d'aquesta línia 	comporta- els impactes residuals sobre la vegetació."
	
	7. 230,000 euros or 0.5% of the investment for expropiation: "Resulta inadmissible 	que es faci a costa de la imposició de noves servituds i càrregues al medi i a la 	població rural sense que aquestes s'indemnitzin de manera justa. Les compensacions 	previstes resulten absolutament insuficients en fixar-se en la ridícula xifra de 230.000 	euros, fins i tot inferior a les despeses previstes per l'enginyeria del projecte. Respecte 	d'un pressupost total de 40.285.000 euros suposa destinar a afectacions un percentatge 	inferior al 0.5% de la inversió projectada.

Private properties are seriously affected with one company accounting a loss in value of 3.5 million euros or 60% of the original book value of 6 million euros. This loss for just one property is 15 times more than what REE is compensating for expropriating 558 properties for the entire Sentmenat-Bescanó section with an average compensation of 412 euros per property. 

Environmentalists and mayors affected by the line have made official complaints in common to the Supreme Court, to the Council of Ministers and to the Catalan Ombudsman:

	1. Environmental impact worsened as project advances: "No es posa remei a cap de 	les amenaces contra les espècies d'aus protegides existents; no es pren cap mesura 	efectiva que disminuiexi l'impacte paisatgístic; no es pren mesures que garanteixin 	l'eliminació substancial del risc per la salut de les persones; tanmateix el nou traçat 	empitjora fins i tot el traçat prèviament proposat."

	2. The European Interconnection not presented as a single project: "Aquesta 	instal.lació es planteja amb un objectiu real, inicialment ocultat, de servir a la 	connexió internacional en MAT. Així en l'anunci d'informació pública sobre la 	sol.licitud inicial d'aquest expedient clarament s'hi reconeix millora de la fiabilitat de 	la Interconnexió elèctrica amb França. El projecte per tant no es pot desvincular de 	l'objectiu principal i més rellevant: la Interconnexió elèctrica amb França en línia de 	400 kV. L'ocultació va impedir efectuar una Avaluació de l'Impacte Ambiental de 	conjunt, tenint en compte l'abast total de l'obra que es pretenia, presentant un projecte 	fragmentari i per tant no complert i erroni."

	3. If France backs down, the line is useless: "Es pot donar el cas hipotètic que 	l'Estat francès renuncii a completar la línia en el seu territori, fet que comportaria que 	la constrcció d'aquesta línia hagi resultat totalment sobredimensionada, innecessària i 	del tot inútil a l'objectiu que s'havia previst."

	4. Lies on the extent of the project made finding the right alternatives impossible: 	"L'ocultació de l'abast internacional de la línia ha fet que no existeixi una fluidesa de 	communicació amb l'Estat francès, fet que dificulta enormement trobar solucions 	ambientalment correctes i acceptables."
In one of the rare answers to an affected party REE repeats the lie the project has nothing to do with the European Interconnection:

	"No es objeto del presente proyecto al no contemplar este proyecto la Interconexión 	con Francia."

Strictly speaking true since the first section Sentmenat-Bescanó does not interconnect with France...

4.3.3. Real alternatives

The affected parties list a series of alternatives of undergrounding, security, infrastructures corridor, energy efficiency, better management of the system and renovate the Girona network which contrast with the biased route of the transmission monopolies:
 
1) Undergrounding: The major alternative repeatedly demanded and constantly refused by REE as will be discussed in the next section on fragmentation is undergrounding. The Diputació de Girona where all municipalities in the region are represented asked that to avoid the negative environmental impacts parts of the project should be underground:

	"Amb l'objectiu d'eviatr l'impacte paisatgístic de la línia nova a 400 kV en el darrer 	tram proper a la subestació de Bescanó caldria soterrar la línia almenys des del punt 	marcat com a T-156 fins a la subestació. En el tram entre T-156 i T-145 caldria 	estudiar un traçat alternatiu al plantejat pel projecte per fer possible també el seu 	soterrament."

Exceptionally, because REE rarely answers, the Spanish transmission monopoly did reply to the Diputació de Girona arguing undergrounding is rejected on environmental grounds (!):

	"Dadas las características de las líneas de doble circuito de 400 kV y la morfología 	del territorio por el que discurre, con una topografía muy acusada con barrancos 	profundos que separan elevaciones apreciables y la presencia casi continua de 	formaciones forestales en las zonas cruzadas, los impactos ambientales de todo tipo 	que generaría la implantación de un tramo soterrado serían muy superiores a las que 	va a imponer la línea aérea. La construcción de un tramo subterráneo implica 	ineludiblemente la construcción de dos pequeñas subestaciones de en torno a 4.000 m2 	de superficie cada una situadas en el extremo del tramo para el paso de aéreo a 	subterráneo, y afectar a toda la longitud del tramo con una afección de 25 a 30 m de 	ancho en banda en la que se ha de eliminar toda la vegetación y se han de acometer 	movimientos de tierra de consideración para la construcción de las líneas soterradas. 	Las afecciones debidas a la construcción de líneas subterráneas sobre la totalidad de 	los elementos del medio son superiores en este tipo de instalaciones a la de las líneas 	aéreas cuando se pretenden implantar en zonas naturalizadas o montañosas como es el 	caso."

We will discuss undergrounding further in the final chapter since this seems to be the most important question to be resolved and the REE answers are entirely misleading.

2) Security: The environmental agency of the Girona municipalities CILMA has commissioned a study of the security situation of the Girona network showing six different scenarios which better the current situation of overloads renovating various options of 25/110/1342/220 lines without requiring a 400 kV at all.
3) Infrastructure corridor: The route chosen by REE over mountainous terrain ignores that there is already a major infrastructure corridor from Barcelona to France which concentrates road, rail, water and electricity connections

4) Energy efficiency: If infrastructure corridors are not the answer the alternative is to increase efficiency rather than provide new high power lines: 

	"El debat que s'imposa no és el de MAT sí o MAT no sinó que davant l'evidència que 	tenim un sostre energètic difícilment superable tan sols queda la via de l'eficiència per 	frenar l'escalada de consums. Es considera que l'impacte d'aquesta infrastructura és 	molt greu i/o sever doncs suposa alterar un territori que alberga importants valors 	florístics, faunísitcs, geològics, hidrològics, històricoculturals, arquitectònics i 	paisatgístics. A més s'han de considerar els efectes negatius cumulatius que es van 	implantant i que venen derivats dels processos urbanitzadors i la construcció i 	ampliació de noves infraestructures viàries (tren d'alta velocitat, AP 7 i A2) ja que en 	conjunt sumen diversos efectes negatius."

There is littlo or no planning for efficiency. The Spanish Energy Plan devotes only 6% of investment to energy saving measures.

5) Generation closer to consumers: Girona has a huge generation deficit and instead of importing 75% of its electricity, Girona could develop local generation capacity:

	"Sería más sensato planificar la instalación de plantas de generación más cerca de los 	puntos de consumo. Conlleva ahorro de infraestructuras de transporte (necesidad de 	construir costosas líneas de alta tensión) a la vez que se reducen las pérdidas y se 	evitan impactos ambientales de muy notable envergadura."

6) Better management of the system: The blackout scare in Girona used as an argument for the new line in the 2008 CESI report of the European Coordinator was due to mismanagement by a centralised system in Madrid far from the producing and consuming centres in Catalonia:

	"La central de Vandellós estava aturada, ja se sabia amb temps suficient per tenir-ho 	en compte; els cicles combinast de Besós en situació d'aturada programada, greu 	errada de programació; i en aquest context un incident tècnic a la tèrmica de Foix, 	aquest sí imprevisible, generà la situació d'alerta. El que cal és gestionar millor el 	sistema i no fer línies noves per tapar les imprevisions negligents. 
7) Renovate the Girona network: The distribution network in Girona has not had significant investment in over 20 years, this is the real problem for which the new 400 kV is no alternative:

	"El risc d'apagades continua ja que la xarxa de distribució a casa nostra és vella i 	pateix d'una manca d'inversions rellevants des de fa més de vint anys. La qualitat del 	servei al consumidor no depèn de la capacitat d'interconnexió. Les fallades en el 	sistema es produeixen en les xarxes de mitja i baixa tensió. S'intenta confondre 	l'opinió pública en barrejar les necessitats autèntiques de millorar el servei de 	subministrament i distribució elèctrica a Girona amb l'estratègia de negoci que les 	empreses elèctriques estan impulsant. L'estat deficitari del subministrament i 	distribució d'energia elèctrica a les nostes comarques és degut a la manca d'inversió i 	negligència de les diferents companyies que han tingut la propietat de la xarxa a casa 	nostra com confirma un recent informe de la Conselleria d'Indústria de la Generalitat 	de Catalunya." 

8) Biased choice by the transmission monopolies: The choice is based on data supplied by the transmission monopolies who referee their own match:

	"Les dades sobre les que es fonamenta provenen exclusivament dels monopolis 	transportadors d'electricitat que així esdevenen part i jutge podent haver esbiaxat les 	conclusions de forma interessada."

4.4 The Rest of the REE Fragmentation

REE has fragmented the European Interconnection into seven parts: four sections for the overhead line, including a small feed for the high speed train and three for the substations, all of which have their separate and supposedly independent Environmental Impact Statements. What was simply ignored in the first fragment, Sentmenat-Bescanó, has had to be incorporated in the other Environmental Impact Studies, namely alternatives. However there is no objectivity. One Environmental Impact Statement from October 2007, duly reports a 2007 law favourable to the electricity monopoly but ignores the two 2006 laws incorporating the European Aarhus Convention. 

Environmentalists, mayors and Catalan government officials question this illegal sectioning of the European Interconnection. Environmentalist IAEDEN made an official complaint: 

	"El projecte de la subestació de Bescanó constitueix un complement del Projecte de 	Nova Alimentació a Girona a 400 kV i s'ha desgragmentat un projecte conjunt que 	seria Senmenat-Bescanó-Baixàs."

SEO/Birdlife points out the illegality of fragmenting a project like the European Interconnection:
	1. The high speed train and the European Interconnection require a single 	Environmental Impact Statement: "La finalidad del proyecto de referencia según el 	promotor es suministrar la energía necesaria para el funcionamiento del tren de alta 	velocidad además de atender la futura demanda eléctrica de la zona. Supone que los 	proyectos de construcción del tren de alta velocidad y la instalación de la línea 	eléctrica que le suministre energía no han sido evaluados de forma completa y 	conjunta y como corresponde con un único proyecto real que ha sido incorrectamente 	fragmentado."

	2. The European Court does not accept fragmentation: La sentencia del TJCE del 21 	de septiembre de 1999 (C392/96) ha entendido que no cabe fraccionar los proyectos 	para intentar eludir los procedimientos de Evaluación de Impacto Ambiental exigidos 	por la Normativa Comunitaria: "El hecho de que no se tenga en cuenta el efecto 	cumulativo de los proyectos tiene como consecuencia práctica que la totalidad de los 	proyectos de un determinado tipo puede quedar exenta de la obligación de 	evaluación."

	3. A fragmented project must take into account the rest of the project: Si no se puede 	fraccionar un proyecto para intentar eludir la realización de la preceptiva Evaluación 	de Impacto Ambiental de sus efectos, tampoco pueden fraccionarse las Evaluaciones 	de Impacto Ambiental de tal forma que no se tengan en cuenta los proyectos 	existentes o en tramitación pues el efecto útil de la Directiva 85/337 quedaría 	sustancialmente debilitado. Nos encontramos pues ante un incumplimiento frontal del 	Derecho Ambiental Comunitario que no puede ser amparado por las 	Administraciones españolas."

The mayor of Bescanó adds defencelessness and the impossibility of a public hearing and of real alternatives:

	4. Defencelessness and impossibility of a public hearing: "Mostra la disconformitat 	amb el procediment d'elaboració i tramitació informe i aprovació separada per fases o 	com projectes diferents de projecte que en realtat en són un d'únic. En la tramitació i 	informe d'una part REE amaga les altres coses que vindran després que ells ja saben 	però no diuen ni tan sols mitjançant un avantprojecte global conjunt. Aixó crea 	indefensió i impossibilita la participació i informació pública cabal als afectats. La 	línia d'alta tensió 400 kV Sentmenat-Bescanó, la subestació de Vilanna (Bescanó) i la 	línia i subestació de 400 kV Bescanó a Riudarenes han de ser un únic i mateix 	projecte."

	5. Abscence of real alternatives: "Cualquier nuevo proyecto viene condicionado por la 	localización previa de los anteriores, limitando o impidiendo la propuesta de posibles 	alternativas globales con un menor impacto sobre el territorio y quien sabe si con 	costes económicos menores."

The Catalan government complains the Riudarenes feed is part of the European Interconnection whose need must first be proven for the high speed train: 
	6. Hidden European Interconnection and need not proven: "El proyecto se basa en una 	conexión a 400 kV en Bescanó cuando siguen existiendo incógnitas respecto a la 	necesidad de la interconexión a 400 kV entre España y Francia a través de Cataluña, 	derivadas de las posiciones opuestas de diversos informes técnicos, de la falta de un 	Plan de Energía de Catalunya y del posicionamiento contrario de parte de la sociedad 	afectada. ¿Es necesaria la alimentación del tren de alta velocidad con una conexión a 	400 kV en Francia? ¿Se debe supeditar la potencia del suministro eléctrico del tren de 	alta velocidad a las necesidades eléctricas de Cataluña? ¿Es viable la generación in 	situ de energía para el tren de alta velocidad? Son estas algunas de las preguntas que 	deberían responder y justificar antes de valora el proyecto."

REE is well aware it is acting illegally as the Riudarenes substation section of the European Interconnection shows. The Spanish transmission monopoly argues it voluntarily provides an unnecessary Environmental Impact Statement and moreover linked to a larger project as the environmentalists, the mayors and indeed Catalan government official argued all along:

	"La Evaluación de Impacto Ambiental de esta instalación, una subestación eléctrica, 	no es preceptiva según la legislación ambiental. Este tipo de instalación tampoco viene 	recogido en la legislación específica de Catalunya como de obligada realización de 	Evaluación de Impacto Ambiental. Independientemente de la obligatoriedad de 	realización de la correspondiente Evaluación de Impacto Ambiental, REE considera 	que su ejecución constituye una herramienta válida para evitar la generación de 	afecciones en el medio ambiente. Un aspecto importante en la tramitación es que esta 	Evaluación de Impacto Ambiental se presenta coincidiendo con el de la línea de 	enlace, la línea de entrada y salida en Riudarenes de la línea Sentmenat-Vic-Bescanó, 	dada la vinculación entre ambos proyectos de forma que se permita la evaluación de 	ambos conjuntamente."

4.4.1 Second REE Fragmentation: Riudarenes Feed

REE argues that the section feeding Riudarenes is for the high speed train exclusively:

	Se va a implantar con el fin de enlazar la nueva subestación de Riudarenes con la red 	de transporte, garantizando de este modo el suministro al tren de alta velocidad, 	objetivo básico de la misma."

The first section Sentmenat-Bescanó had no real alternatives as has been shown, but by 2007 REE had to at least follow the letter of the law and the Riudarenes 15 km feed does have alternatives, two false and four real:

	First false alternative: Do nothing: The Environmental Impact Statement requires 	to analyse whether doing nothing is not the best. REE writes a self serving essay, with 	no numbers arguing that although "clearly" it is best to do nothing, the high speed 	train has "no viable alternative:" "Dentro de esta alternativa se debe valorar claramente 	a favor de la no actuación el peso de los valores ambientales de la zona que debe 	cruzar. Dado que no hay alternativa viable para la alimentación del tren de alta 	velocidad, la no realización del proyecto supondría la inviabilidad de alimentar el tren 	de alta velocidad, proyecto que entonces no podría funcionar, siendo este un objetivo 	prioritario de los gobiernos nacional y de la Generalitat de Catalunya."
.
	Second false alternative: Undergrounding: The Catalan government and the mayors 	had asked for this alternative in 2006. No surprise REE discovers undergrounding 	would be best on the plain than in the mountainous route. Obviously undergrounding 	is not an option, and REE goes so far as to write an undocumented annex against 	undergrounding ever, which contradicts its own practices. This is seen in the first real 	option below where REE discards the Girona airport route by not considering the 	obvious solution of undergrounding as it has done in Madrid airport.
 
	First real alternative: The airport route: REE had agreed with the Catalan 	government that the 400 kV line follow the high speed train: "Com a resultat d'una 	visita de camp del 29 de novembre de 2004 per part dels tècnics de la Direcció 	General d'Indústria i Energia, Departament de Medi Ambient i Habitatge i REE es av 	considerar que el traçat de la línia elèctrica de 400 kV per alimentació del tren d'alta 	velocitat havia d'aprofitar el corredor d'infraestructures conformat per la carretera N II, 	l'autopista AP 7, el futur tren d'alta velocitat i les línies elèctriques de 132 kV La 	Roca-Salt i 110 kV Sils-Girona." This corridor REE admits is the best alternative: 	"Es por tanto aquella solución que desde el punto de vista del territorio comporta una 	menor fragmentación." However REE rejects this alternative because of the airport, 	although it admits the 110 kV and 132 kV lines will be undergrounded. Why not then 	the 400 kV line?

	Second real alternative: The airport detour: To avoid undergrounding REE is willing 	to double the length of the route causing major environmental impacts: "La 	proximidad del espacio PEIN del Volcà de la Crosa no consigue el efecto de 	ordenación del territorio. Además de suponer un incremento de las heridas sobre el 	territorio, implicaría una mayor dispersión de las infraestructuras."

	Third real alternative: Population detour: Again a major impact on the environment: 	"Se trata básicamente de un territorio compuesto por bosques. Si bien es la opción con 	una mayor complejidad orográfica, ello también puede contribuir a que la línea quede 	más escondida de los posibles observadores."

	Fourth real alternative: The mixed detour: The chosen alternative is an intermediate 	solution avoiding the airport and the population at the expense of the environment and 	at 19 kms almost equally long as the airport detour. This abrupt forest route has a high 	risk of forest fires: "El trazado discurre por una zona con un relieve más abrupto que 	las otras tres alternativas, atravesando diversas zonas forestales y de elevada calidad 	paisajística. El riesgo de incendio potencial en el ámbito de estudio es muy elevado."

4.4.2 Third REE Fragmentation: Riudarenes Substation

The substation in Riudarenes also provides some four alternatives. However the location has been moved arbitrarily 11 kms southwest from the original project of the European Interconnection as the rail track monopoly GIF admits:

	"Maçanet es el lugar establecido originalmente"

Indeed the title of the GIF document leaves no doubt that Maçanet de la Selva, not Riudarenes, was the preferred choice: Ubicación de las subestaciones de Maçanet y Santa Llogaia que alimentarán al tramo Barcelona-Figueres de la LAV Madrid-Zaragoza-Barcelona-frontera francesa.

The technical reasons for the shift are not convincing with operational data ommitted for the new location of Riudarenes in a degraded situation and only considered for normal operations. Most likely it is the fear that the original placement in Maçanet de la Selva would make much more logical the use for the high speed train of the 220 kV network as in Barcelona, taking away the major justification for the 400 kV European Interconnection. As internal REE documents have revealed, Maçanet de la Selva lies in a major blackout risk area which would have to be upgraded and renovated if a substation were built there (See map in table 4.1). 

The four alternatives to locate the substation, after the arbitrary elimination of the original choice, which is no longer considered as an alternative, are variations on the same municipality, two in Puigsardina and two in Sant Roc. The final choice is subjective, based on a 1,2,3 point system on 15 criteria where profitability for REE is paramount (less construction costs, closer to customer Renfe, good access, while the main negative criterium is the furthest away from the local population. The environment on the other hand is treated cavalierly with pines not being considered Mediterranean trees (!) and the flora and fauna living under its protection dismissed entirely as unprotectable in the chosen location of the Polígon Industrial Mallorquines:

	"Dicho pinar no es un bosque autóctono. Por lo tanto aunque dicha formación se 	considere un Hábitat de Interés Comunitario, en esta zona no constituyen un hábitat de 	especial relevancia."

The logic for this non-protection of pine trees is that they grow fast as explained in another REE fragment:

	"Los bosques compuestos por especies de crecimiento rápido (pinares), dado que si 	bien por ser formaciones forestales constituyen unos ecosistemas complejos, las 	especies que los forman tienen una menor importancia."

4.4.3 Fourth REE Fragmentation: Bescanó-Santa Llogaia 400 kV Line

This third section of the European Interconnection, presented by REE in March 2008 hides the European nature of the project, arguing it solely connects Riudarenes and Santa Llogaia substations for the high speed train and secondly for better service to Girona. Renovating existing lines is rejected for pedestrian reasons and in passing the European Interconnection is mentioned as if it were a parallel event:

	"La citada línea eléctrica se va a implantar con el fin de mallar ambas subestaciones 	entre sí para garantizar el suministro al tren de alta velocidad, objetivo básico de la 	nueva instalación. En paralelo, mejorar el abastecimiento energético al subsistema de 	Girona capital. En cuanto a medidas alternativas descartan soluciones de menor 	impacto inicial basadas en refuerzos de la red existente dado que ésta se encuentra 	situada en muchos casos en el interior de localidades. Además estos refuerzos serían 	insuficientes y constituirían solamente un retraso escaso ante la necesidad de hacer 	frente a instalaciones de carácter especial como es el caso del futuro tren de alta 	velocidad. También han sido puestas de manifiesto en estudios más recientes 	asociados al estudio del comportamiento de la Interconexión España-Francia."

Having discarded without study the real alternative of renovating existing lines, the two alternatives presented for this fourth European Interconnection fragment by REE are a route avoiding populations or a route following the road, rail and electricity corridor. Because officials keep demanding an underground solution, again an essay rejecting this is added, although interestingly REE admits the route chosen, the infrastructures corridor could be a good parallel route for eventual undergrounding, the first time there is no frontal rejection of undergrounding by REE:

	"Diversos organismos solicitan que la línea se acometa mediante una solución 	soterrada. Lo más que se puede adoptar entonces es un cierto paralelismo, lo que 	implicaría acoplar de alguna manera las servidumbres."

One of the officials asking for a parallel track was Catalan employment and industry minister Josep Maria Rañé, who also pointed out this section was part of the European Interconnection:

	"És evident que aquest traçat està condicionat pel punt concret d'interconnexió que han 	d'acordar els governs d'Espanya i França. L'opció preferent seria seguir el traçat del 	tren d'alta velocitat."

The Catalan environment ministry says the same, pointing out this avoids destroying protected areas. Their brief states specifically however that it does not know whether the 400 kV line is necessary at all or even required for the high speed train: 

	"En ningún momento se justifica que sea necesario un doble circuito de 400 kV para la 	alimentación del tren de alta velocidad, hecho que ultrapasa el objetivo del presente 	documento. En ningún momento el documento cuestiona las soluciones eléctricas 	tanto para la alimentación del tren de alta velocidad como para la alimentación de 	Girona y su entorno y la posible Interconexión con Francia. Se ha procurado 	aprovechar los corredores de infraestructuras viarias y eléctricas existentes. El trazado 	evita espacios PEIN y espacios incluidos en la Red Natura 2000."

A call for more sense by REE in the European Interconnection is also made by the body grouping all municipalities in the area, the Diputació de Girona asking for consensus and participation, real alternatives and an open discussion on undergrounding, and infrastructure corridors to avoid fragmenting the countryside. Undergrounding would internalise externalities, minimise forest fires and save in maintenance: 

	"La internalización de los intangibles, la eliminación del riesgo de incendio forestal y 	el ahorro en su mantenimiento, perfectamente viable aprovechando el despliegue del 	tren de alta velocidad o la ampliación de la autopista AP 7."

4.4.4 Fifth REE Fragmentation: Ramis Substation

REE is well aware of the illegality of presenting a single project in fragments and for the fifth fragmentation, the Ramis substation, for the first time volunteers an Environmental Impact Statement parallel to the Bescanó-Santa Llogaia line discussed above. However there is no mention of the European Interconnection both fragmentations belong to:

	"Esta subestación se encuentra vinculada a las líneas que alimentan Girona y en 	particular a la nueva línea a 400 kV que unirá Bescanó con la misma y con la 	subestación de Santa Llogaia. Esta Evaluación de Impacto Ambiental se presenta 	coincidiendo con el de la línea Bescanó-Ramis-Santa Llogaia, dada la vinculación 	entre ambos proyectos de forma que se permita la evaluación de ambos 	conjuntamente. Este proyecto constituye parte de un conjunto de instalaciones que 	supondrán un apoyo a la alimentación a Girona capital y al nordeste de la provincia. 	Este conjunto sí que debe someterse a Evaluación de Impacto Ambiental. De acuerdo 	con ello esta Evaluación de Impacto Ambiental se deberá someter al procedimiento 	reglado de Evaluación de Impacto Ambiental como un elemento más del conjunto."

This sudden change of heart by REE is the result of the new laws of the Aarhus Convention of 2006 which until now had been ignored by the Spanish transmission monopoly but in 2008 can no longer do so with this second section of the European Interconnection and attached substations:

	"La Ley 9/2006 de 28 de abril introduce en la legislación española la evaluación 	ambiental de planes y programas como instrumento de prevención que permita 	integrar los aspectos ambientales en la toma de decisiones e incorporar a nuestro 	derecho interno la Directiva 2001/42/CE del Parlamento Europeo. Esta ley pretende 	integrar los aspectos ambientales en la elaboración y aprobación de planes y 	programas para alcanzar un elevado nivel de protección del medio ambiente y 	promover el desarrollo sostenible en su triple dimensión económica, social y 	ambiental a través de un proceso continuo de evaluación en el que se garantice la 	transparencia y la participación." 

Unfortunately, the REE project is still partial, not presented in its entirety from Sentmenat to Baixàs, or with sufficient transparency when the three new fragments of 2008 still pretend they have nothing to do with the larger picture, and with participation still non-existent.

Eight options are given for the placement of the substation and the one chosen is primarily because it is "hidden", in inverted commas as the statement says:

	"La ubicación de la parcela 7 es idónea ya que además de presentar un terreno llano 	queda "escondido" (sic) al pie de la montaña."

So much for transparency and participation.

4.4.5 Sixth REE Fragmentation: Santa Llogaia Substation

REE does not admit the Santa Llogaia substation will connect to France, since this is where the French section from Baixàs ends, and no mention of the European Interconnection is made which requires a joint Environmental Impact Statement following REE's argument in the previous fragment of the Ramis substation as part of the Bescanó-Ramis-Santa Llogaia line. Likewise the Santa Llogaia substation is part of the Bescanó-Santa Llogaia-Baixàs line. This line is not simply a feed as stated by REE to the substation, like is true for the Riudarenes case above, but part of the European Interconnection: 

	"Dado que esta subestación se encuentra vinculada a las instalaciones precisas para 	la alimentación al tren de alta velocidad en el tramo Girona-frontera francesa y la línea 	de alimentación Bescanó-Ramis-Santa Llogaia sí se encuentra sometida, la presente 	instalación se somete al procedimiento de Evaluación de Impacto Ambiental en 	paralelo con las demás instalaciones del eje en cumplimiento del espíritu de las 	normas. Esta Evaluación de Impacto Ambiental se presenta coincidiendo con el de la 	línea de enlace Bescanó-Ramis-Santa Llogaia y la otra subestación prevista en el eje, 	Ramis, dada la vinculación entre los tres proyectos, de forma que se permita la 	evaluación de todos ellos conjuntamente."

Isn't the entire European Interconnection one single project requiring this same single Environmental Impact Statement?

Three placements were selected for the substation in Santa Llogaia d'Àlgema and REE admits for the alternative chosen that it seriously impacts the population and the countryside, but no matter because the high speed track also impacts:

	"El principal inconveniente de este emplazamiento es la proximidad al núcleo urbano 	de Santa Llogaia y el potencial impacto paisajístico. En todo caso se ha de tener 	presente que entre el emplazamiento y la localidad se situará el tren de alta velocidad 	que forma una barrera clara en el territorio entre una y otra."
4.4.6 Seventh REE Fragmentation: Santa Llogaia-French Frontier 400 kV Line

There is no agreement on crossing the Pyrenees. The planners of Barcelona Regional provided three options admitting that the line has a strong opposition and that a decision based solely on environmental grounds is flawed, first and foremost because the line obviously has a major environmental impact which currently is not valued, but also because electric, social and economic aspects are not taken into account:

	"En l'imaginari col.lectiu les línies elèctriques aixequen una forta oposició contrària. 	No cal amagar que l'impacte més important sobre el medi es produeix en la fase de 	l'obra, sobretot en el món forestal. L'obertura de camins d'accés fins les torres, camins 	a més que cal mantenir al llarg de la vida de la línia pel seu manteniment o l'estassada 	dels carrers sota els cables elèctrics per tal de minimitzar les avaries per contacte amb 	les branques o amb els troncs o el risc d'incendi pels arcs voltaics entre els conductors 	i la vegetació són alguns dels impactes a tenir en compte. La decisió d'una o altra 	alternativa no es pot prendre només pels aspectes ambientals i territorials segurament 	força importants. Cal recordar que el present estudi no ha tingut en compte altres 	valoracions igualment determinants com ara els condicionants elèctrics, els aspectes 	sociològics, econòmics, etc, que s'haurien d'avaluar. Sigui com sigui amb tota 	seguretat l'impacte més controvertit és el paisatgístic i territorial. Aquests són efectes 	difícils de valorar."

The criteria used in plotting by Barcelona Regional are the following:

	1) Minimum distance to isolated buildings: 100 metres.
	2) Minimum distance to urban areas: 500 metres.
	3) Width of the right of way: Variable from 20 to 50 metres.

These are the only three real variables used to plot the three alternative routes over the Pyrenees. Barcelona Regional evaluated by giving an arbitrary five points in the four grades of colours for the ten impacts shown in table 4.5. The impacts are length, orographic complexity, protected areas affected, irreplaceable habitats, territorial fragmentation, impact on birds, proximity to houses and towns, access roads built, integration into the countryside and socio-environmental complexity. The latter probably means opposition to the line, marked red in all three options, cancelling each other out of course. The route parallel to the high speed train is the most favourable.

Table 4.5 Subjective Evaluation of Alternative Crossings of the Pyrenees

Source: Barcelona Regional 2005.

4.5 Unresolved Conflicts of the New Line

The Sentmenat-Bescanó section of the European Interconnection Sentmenat-Bescanó-Baixàs reveals unresolved conflicts which are common both to the go it alone do as you please REE first section as well as to the entire top down project with severe global impacts on the environment, efficiency, renewable energy, price differentials, non-trade barriers and transparency and participation.

4.5.1 Unresolved Environmental Impacts

The route crosses unique habitats protected by the European Union as well as by the Catalan government with full responsibility on the Catalan environment: 

	"La Directiva del Consell Europeu 79/409/CEE relativa a la conservació de les aus 	silvestres inclou al seu annex I l'aliga cuabarrada (Hieraetus fasciatus). D'acord amb 	aquesta directica aquesta espècie ha de ser objecte de mesures de conservació 	especials quant al seu hàbitat, amb la fi d'assegurar la seva supervivència i 	reproducció en la seva àrea de distribució. Per altra banda també s'han esmentat dues 	espècies més protegides per la directiva. Es tracta del falcó pelegrí (Falco peregrinus) i 	el duc (Bubo bubo). Segons la Llei 22/2003 de protecció dels animals de Catalunya, 	un gran nombre es troben considerades com especies protegides de fauna salvatge 	autòctona" entre les quals destaquen especialment l'esquirol (Sciurus vulgaris), els 	amfibis, els rèptils (serps d'aigua, tortugues, etc) i les aus, molt particularment les 	rapinyaires tant diurnes com nocturnes."

Environmental consultants Fractàlia conclude that the overhead line has a severe global impact:

1) Severe impact on animal life: 

a) Directly affects the migration route of Central European birds to Africa in Autumn and back in Spring in the Rocar de Santa Coloma and Argimon areas.

b) Nestlings affected of the hobby, honey buzzard, short-toed eagle, peregrine falcon and eagle owl, locally falcó mostatxut (Falco subbuteo), aligot vesper (Pernis apivorus), aguila marcenca (Circaetus gallicus), falcó peregrí (Falco peregrinus), duc (bubo bubo) in Puigsardina, Serra del Bagissot and Guilleries.

c) Camping area affected for gliders such as the Griffon vulture and booted eagle, locally voltor (Gyps fulvus) and àguila calçada (Hieraaetus pennatus).

d) Affects hunting grounds of the bat.

e) The line crosses ponds with the best preserved populations of pond turtles, locally tortuga d'estany (Emys orbicularis).

f) Affects a protected area for especially abundant snakes in Serra del Corb.

2) Severe impact on plant life:

a) The line crosses virgin forest with severe impacts from the towers, access roads and permanent clearings: "Es situa sobre superfície forestal pràcticament inalterada. No està fragmentada per cap infraestructura i per tant el nou traçat de la línia MAT amb torres que mesuren aprox. 60 m. d'alçada causarà un sever impacte paisatgístic sobre l'entorn proper." Mediterranean trees affected are corks and oaks: sureres, alzinars, carrascars, brolles, roure martinenc (Quercus humilis), roure cerrioide (Quercus cerroides).

b) Increased risk of forest fires: "La construcció de la línia augmentaria la probabilitat d'inici d'incendis forestals, tant durant la fase de construcció com durant la fase d'explotació."

c) The line crosses ponds with protected fragile plants: pond orchids, locally orquídea d'aiguamoll (Orchys laxiflora); meadow grass and fragile oats, locally dall and gaudinia (Gaudinia fragilis); grazing marshes, locally jonqueres i herbassars humits 
(Molinio holoschoenion), vegetació matant (Hydrocharition), espigues d'aigua (Potamion).

Table 4.6 Volcanic Structures Affected

Source: Direcció General de Medi Natural, Espais d'Interès Geològic in REE 2007b

3) Severe impact on geological sites: 

Affects volcanic structures (See table 4.6): "Xemeneies i colades volcàniques d'interès que es troben sota el traçat i en les zones potencials d'habilitació d'accessos per a la construcció de sabates de les torres:" 

a) Volcanic chimneys: Puigsardina, Puig de l'Esparra, Montcorb, Can Sala. 

b) Lava flows: Can Barrot, Can Tort, Coll d'en Patllari, Can Montmal. 

c) Hydrothermal fountain: Termes Orion. 

d) Special formations: Rocar de Santa Coloma, Roca Guillera, Roca Abellera.

4) Severe impact on ponds: 

Ponds affected, locally basses Mas Vern, Can Conill and Can Calçada.

5) Severe impact on archaeological sites: 

Thirteen archaeological structures affected within 500 m. of the line from the Palaeolithic, Ferro-Iberian and Roman periods. 

4.5.2 Unresolved Efficiency and Renewable Energy

The energy transport system in Catalonia is highly centralised, built around two arteries from the production centres to the consumption centres of Barcelona and Tarragona:

	1) From the three nuclear power stations in Southwest Catalonia.

	2) From the hydroelectric dams in the Pyrenees of Northwest Catalonia.

There is no direct planning for efficiency, with the best prediction, the so called IER Escenari Intensiu en Eficiència i Energies Renovables (Intensive Scenario in Efficiency and Renewable Energies), reducing electricity growth only 1% in total until 2015. However there are important indirect energy saving measures through the growth in renewable energies to reduce dependence on high cost fuel imports. This could increase efficiency by promoting a decentralised micro-net distribution system, but by favouring centralisation the top down European Interconnection contradicts this natural evolution reinforcing an outdated system which is no longer efficient and too costly in imports and with energy losses established at 8,5% of generated electricity:

"Es podria absorbir aquest increment de demanda amb sistemes molt més eficients que els actuals. Aquest nou model de generació també donaria lloc a un nou model de distribució consistent en microxarxes. L'actual model de transport es troba condicionat per un model de generació centralitzat i en certa mesura l'existència de xarxes amb aquestes característiques pot condicionar en darrer terme la perpetuació d'aquest model de generació."

In 2004 transport and distribution lost 20,085 GWh or 8.5% of electricity consumption, of which overhead lines lost 3,494 GWh or 1.7%. Power cuts added another 3% in losses. Efficiency concerns don't seem to matter in a monopolistic environment and in this sense decentralised renewable energy is not welcome either.

4.5.3 Unresolved Price Differentials

The European Interconnection will not increase trade from Europe because Spanish electricity prices are below the market average for EU 15. Spanish prices were close to European prices in 1996 but have evolved downward, noticeably so since 2002 both for domestic and industrial users (See tables 4.7 and 4.8). So long as Spanish prices remain competitively below European levels, there can be no increase in electricity imports from Europe except for spot purchases to cover peak demands and power incidences. The new European Interconnection will remain grossly underutilised. Table 4.9 shows that Spain is not an island as Europe portrays with 17 interconnections with France, Andorra, Portugal and Morocco. The figures for 2006 show a trade deficit with France making hard to see how imports can increase further given the current price differential in favour of Spain.

Real electricity prices fell by one third (32%) 1997-2005 and cannot be considered high in European terms. These lower prices in Spain make wishful thinking the European top down approach that a new interconnection will increase trade from Europe, but has the added negative effect on prices that not all costs are incorporated, distorting planning by ignoring environmental costs and impacts on the countryside as the Spanish White Paper on electricity admits:

	"El precio actual de la electricidad no es capaz de reflejar el coste de importantes 	externalidades de la producción, transporte y distribución de la electricidad, como son 	muchos de los impactos ambientales de estas actividades: emisiones de CO2, de óxidos 	de nitrógeno y de azufre que causan lluvias ácida y perjudican la salud, de partículas, 	residuos radioactivos –algunos de muy largas vidas-, consumo elevado de agua de 	refrigeración, o diversos impactos sobre el territorio y el paisaje."

Table 4.7 Spanish Domestic Electricity Prices

Source: Ramos 2007 with Eurostat data.

Table 4.8 Spanish Industrial Electricity Prices

Source: Ramos 2007 with Eurostat data.

Table 4.9 International Trade in GWh in 2006

Source: CNE 2008. 

4.5.4 Unresolved Trade Barriers 

The new European Interconnection not only ignores that an increase in trade cannot take place from Europe to Spain so long as Spanish prices are significantly lower, but also that non-price trade barriers make it currently impossible as the Spanish White Paper details:

"Lo inadecuado del procedimiento que se ha venido utilizando para gestionar la asignación: una normativa torpe- pero que ha permanecido vigente sin embargo durante siete años-… es un claro ejemplo que debe hacer reflexionar al sector y especialmente a sus reguladores, de cómo es posible que una norma claramente defectuosa y que tiene unas implicaciones económicas en absoluto insignificantes que han encarecido el precio de la electricidad, haya permanecido siete años sin ser modificada. 

a) Permite por ejemplo recibir ofertas de agentes externos al mercado diario español que desplazan al contrato con EDF –de muy bajo coste variable- pero que luego son retribuidas al coste marginal del mercado diario español mucho más elevado. 

b) También asignó durante años la capacidad de la interconexión a quien en un momento dado se apresuró a solicitarla antes que otros sin subasta ni mecanismo competitivo alguno. 

c) Ya que la norma que afectaba el comercio de electricidad entre los dos países se había puesto en funcionamiento unilateralmente por parte española, se llegó al acuerdo de que el 50% de la capacidad fuese gestionada por parte francesa con una nueva normativa y el otro 50% según la regulación española. La normativa francesa asigna la capacidad a las exportaciones con un esquema first come first served con un límite de 25 MW por transacción, y a las importaciones con una regla de pro rata. Tampoco puede decirse que sea un modelo de asignación según mecanismos eficientes de mercado."

4.5.5 Unresolved Transparency and Participation

The Spanish White Paper on Electricity of 2005 criticises transmission monopoly REE for the unresolved problem of participation and consensus which is essential to carry out planned investments without conflicts and transparency which is good administration and helps a better distribution of production with new entrants:

"Este Libro Blanco recomienda a REE que mejore estos aspectos participativos y, en lo posible, de construcción de consenso pues esto redunda en una mayor facilidad para llevar finalmente a cabo el plan de inversiones…Este Libro Blanco considera que la transparencia informativa del operador del sistema hacia los usuarios de la red de transporte es un elemento esencial de su gestión y que además contribuye a facilitar una ubicación en la red más favorable de los potenciales nuevos entrantes.

This monopolistic behaviour by REE, criticised extensively by the Spanish White Paper should not be ratified by the European Union turning a blind eye to the fait accompli of the first section started without a global agreement. No surprise then the social opposition that the White Report identifies as the main obstacle to building new overhead lines. Unlike roads, which are socially accepted, locals cannot make a direct use of overhead lines, designed for long distance transport without any local benefit nor improvement in the quality of the local service:

a) Direct impact on the local population and environment: "Las líneas aéreas tienen diversos impactos sobre el medio ambiente que pueden resumirse en el uso del terreno, el impacto visual y a veces acústico, el impacto sobre la flora, el impacto sobre las aves y el potencial efecto de los campos magnéticos sobre los seres vivos. También tienen un impacto negativo sobre las propiedades afectadas por la instalación de las torres o el paso de las líneas.

b) The general demand for undergrounding is not taken into account: "Entre los aspectos en los que la opinión popular y la de los expertos parece diferir más es referente a los soterramientos. Una frecuente petición de asociaciones ecologistas y de ayuntamientos es el soterramiento de las líneas."

c) Roads socially accepted as directly useful unlike overhead lines: "El rechazo social ante una y otra infraestructura es precisamente el inverso. Las carreteras en general son bien aceptadas socialmente y no así las líneas de alta tensión. El motivo es claro: la población percibe que puede hacer uso directo de la carretera cercana pues observa que le permite ganar en movilidad y facilidad de comunicación. Sin embargo una línea de alta tensión ha sido precisamente diseñada para transportar lejos la electricidad y en general no deja ningún beneficio localmente, ni siquiera afecta la calidad del suministro eléctrico en la zona."

The Spanish White Paper on Electricity proposes compensations should be part of the planning process so that local populations and the environment are adequately taken into account. In Spain one quarter of the territory is protected so that it is impossible not to plan an overhead line which does not cross protected land. This official petition that overhead lines be properly costed for the local population and the environment has been totally ignored by the transmission monopoly REE as is obvious in the new European Interconnection:

"Es un hecho ampliamente reconocido que las empresas transportistas han tenido que negociar frecuentemente compensaciones. Tal vez debiera establecerse en forma transparente en la correspondiente normativa del transporte de electricidad...El anuncio de una línea vendría automáticamente acompañado del anuncio paralelo de la compensación correspondiente. Sin pronunciarse decididamente en esta dirección, que añade un coste explícito al transporte donde antes sólo era implícito, este Libro Blanco recomienda evaluar esta línea de actuación como medio de atenuar la oposición social existente...La dificultad práctica de unir en la España actual dos puntos del territorio con una línea de alta tensión sin atravesar alguna zona comprendida en el 26% del territorio que está incluido en la Red Natura o en la proximidad inmediata de un núcleo urbano. También se ha señalado que en el proceso de planificación de la red de transporte se deben integrar las opiniones e intereses de todas las partes afectadas.

The White Paper makes more sense than the European and Spanish officials excusing the inexcusable behaviour of the Spanish transmission monopoly as we shall see in the next chapter.

4.6 Conclusions on the Partial REE Project

Spanish Energy Director Ignasi Nieto won the Societat Catalana d'Economia Award 2004 (Josep C. Vergés was secretary of the jury) for his study of the Spanish electrical sector that criticised the opacity of the sector and the capture of the regulator by the transmission monopoly. REE hides its costs but so do the electricity companies which operate effectively as local monopolies. In the case of Catalonia, Endesa is the monopoly provider. Local distributors share in the ownership of the transmission network. This is a recipe for disaster as the Barcelona blackout of summer 2006 showed since neither REE nor Endesa accepted responsibility and the Government blamed both for the bad quality of the lines. This study by Nieto also stated that there were no problems with the existing interconnections with France. Spain has no problems opening up to competition despite limited interconnections. 

Generation is badly distributed, especially in Girona which imports 75% of its power. Transmission monopoly REE is aware that the Girona bottleneck is not in 400 kV lines but at lower levels. The threat of blackouts has nothing to do with the European Interconnection as REE president and former socialist agriculture minister Luis Atienza admits:

	"The debate on the Interconnection obscures the question of electricity supply. The 	problem of electricity supply in the Girona area is much more urgent."

He adds that the high speed train is much more elitist, destructive and destabilising, but it is overhead lines which have the problem of social acceptability.

In 2003 there was no talk by REE of a 400 kV European Interconnection Sentmenat-Baixàs via Bescanó or indeed of renovating the existing 400 kV interconnection Vic-Baixàs. The preferred route was through the Central Pyrenees which would provide sufficient guarantees for Girona. The real problem according to REE was that electricity could not be imported because of the poor state of the distribution network which needed urgent renovation:

	"The Spain-France 400 kV Interconnection through the Central Pyrenees is of interest 	for the Girona network."

To be able to export instead of import electricity from France, it is essential to renovate the 220, 132 and 110 kV lines to prevent blackouts due to the bad state of the distribution network:

	"In export scenarios high overloads are observed in the transport network. To prevent 	these overloads the entire 220 kV line must be repowered. 

This 2003 REE document released through the Aarhus Convention freedom of information act of 2006 clearly states that the best option is an interconnection through the Central Pyrenees and also that whatever the outcome of the international project renovating existing lines in Girona is essential because of the poor state of the local network.

	1) The 400 KV interconnection through the Central Pyrenees is preferred.

	2) Renovating 110, 132 and 220 kV lines is essential whatever the outcome of the 	interconnection with France.

	3) Renovating the 220 kV lines are doubly necessary to be able to export to 	France.

	4) The local distribution network owned by Endesa needs urgent investment.

Three further REE documents updating the situation for the 2007 government order for urgent investment in the Girona network use the 2003 REE paper as background material. The main objective now is the Interconnection with France, plus reinforcing the Girona network and stabilising the high speed train. The high speed train, yet to have a date of service, will be the sole user of the new 400 KV line, but provokes up to 28% of the instability in the Girona electricity supply despite consuming no more than 7% of the power in Girona. 

The transmission monopoly REE criticises local distribution monopoly Endesa for the "inadmissible" state of its network with inadmissible subtensions in six 110 kV and one 132 kV junctions, inadmissible loads in two 100 kV lines "which indicates the distribution network in Girona must be reinforced," and inadmissible overloads in 13 hotspots. 

The new European Interconnection does not solve Girona's problems which are the bad quality of the current distribution network. Overloads will occur whatever happens with the European Project. REE exploits the delay in order not to do anything to improve the Girona network except stopgap patches. The impossible situation of REE having to undertake urgent measures, together with Endesa, which could delay indefinitely and no longer justify the European Interconnection has led to great disarray in the whole investment process, external and internal, for the Girona network:
1) External disarray: REE has gone ahead with the first section of the European Project without waiting for the European decision on the route and technology with the excuse it is exclusively internal to Girona. Quite false as the released REE documents prove which all are centred, for Girona, on the Interconnection with France. The legal slight of hand of an internal Girona connection later morphing into an external interconnection with France was quite deliberate.

2) Internal disarray: The oligopoly situation in Girona (and Catalonia) of investment 	in the network being the double responsibility of REE and Endesa has led to no 	responsibility at all. Endesa is not doing enough to renovate an outdated 	system and REE undertakes the minimum palliative measures to avoid a blackout. The market is non-competitive and it is impossible for new carriers, or even generators, to provide power given the bad state of the Girona network. Perhaps this is the real reason for the underinvestment, a very effective trade barrier to the entry of real competition.

REE has gone ahead with the Spanish sections of the European Project presenting them simply as an improvement for Girona with no mention they are part of a bigger project, although mentioning France could not be entirely avoided given the existing interconnection Vic-Baixàs. The Catalan government had demanded renovating lines before starting on a new overhead corridor:

	"Before planning new corridors of overhead lines all other measures to increase the 	capacity of existing lines must be used up, namely double circuits, increase in tension 	and changing conductors."

The first page of the Supreme Court documents handed in by REE in the complaint by AMMAT and IAEDEN shows that the official permit demanded to the Catalan government by REE admitted that the first section Sentmenat-Bescanó had to do with France:

	"Increase the reliability of the Interconnection with France and increase the energy 	exchange capacity with this country."

Despite this admission, which required an Environmental Impact Statement of the entire line submitted to the central government, the Catalan government accepted the project, although questioning why the new laws on the Aarhus Convention were not applied by the central government:

	"The Ministry of the Environment must rule whether the new laws now in the statute 	book (Law 9/2006 and Law 27/2006) should apply in this procedure."

The REE also ignored the Catalan Government's recommendations of the alternatives of doubling Vic-Baixàs 400 kV or a new line following the high speed train after Bescanó. The Catalan government energy plan wants to reduce imports by finding the right balance between interconnections, building new generating power, renovating the network and applying the Precautionary Principle on electromagnetism from overhead lines. In fact imported electricity from interconnections is planned to remain stagnant because of new combined cycle power stations and wind farms: 

	"In 2010 there will be a similar power import balance as in 1999 and a slight surplus 	of energy for export."
After the setback of the public debate in France which made RTE study alternatives to the 400 kV line, REE issued a paper on the current route that reveal four viable alternatives for all Girona needs and security. Three further alternatives are in central government plans:

	First REE alternative: Increase interconnection with the rest of Spain.

	Second REE alternative: New generation in Girona.
 
	Third REE alternative: Double the existing Vic-Baixàs 400 kV line.

	Fourth REE alternative: Recover the Central Pyrenees route.
 
	Fifth Spanish government alternative: Upgrade the Andorra line to 220 kV.
 
	Sixth Spanish government alternative: New 400 kV line through the Western 	Pyrenees. 
	
	Seventh Spanish government alternative: Renovate the Girona network.

There are therefore seven viable alternatives according to REE and the Spanish government to the Sentmenat-Bescanó line, apart from technical alternatives which would of necessity require a different route with undergrounding or a sea cable. None of these nine alternatives has been considered by REE before going ahead with the line. In fact government energy planner CNE in its 2008 report goes so far as to conclude that current energy capacity is sufficient to cover all extreme cases in the most conservative estimates:

	"There are no indications observed of situations which could affect supplies in a 	scenario of extreme electricity demand under the most conservative hypotheses."

Which makes it even more difficult to understand REE's rush to build the Spanish sections of the European Interconnection when there are nine other alternatives which have not been studied and sufficient capacity exists today for all security and demand concerns in Spain. Moreover REE admits the route chosen crosses protected nature preserves of the Sistema Transversal Català, but argues this is not significant despite the many access roads to the pylons and tree cutting of the right of way. These "residual" impacts, that is which remain permanently, "could be important" with "disappearance" of vegetation cover, the "punctual importance" of migratory birds, local population affected, "important" access road erosion and "notable" de-naturalisation of the environment. REE admits that this line, which produces such severe impacts, crosses a crucial sedentary and migratory bird corridor.

Even local electricity distribution monopoly Fecsa-Endesa complains that the transmission monopoly REE fails to provide enough information to evaluate correctly the project:

	"We must insist on the need to provide more complete projects as we have said 	previously to be able to evaluate correctly the complete picture."

First REE Fragmentation: Sentmenat-Bescanó 400 kV Line

Misinformation starts with the title of the project with REE failing to fulfil Spanish technical norms on object and content. The title purports to be a feed for Girona but Girona requirements are shown to be only 22% and in future at most one third of the new line. Up to 78% of the new capacity installed is not explained by the project, obviously because the Sentmenat-Bescanó line is not to cover Girona demand, but part of a much bigger European Interconnection. The Spanish norm UNE 157001 states: "Every project must have a title that expresses in a clear and unequivocal way the product, building work, installation, service or software involved." The title of the REE project does not reflect faithfully the object and content since capacity planned is 1.943-2.265 Mva while energy requirements of the Girona area are a maximum 500 Mva and in the distant future not exceeding 750 Mva.

The REE title also misleads because a 400 kV very high tension line does not improve the distribution problems at medium and low voltage in Girona, does not improve security and is unnecessary to renovate existing lines as is required. In fact the only credible use is for the Sentmenat-Bescanó line is the European Interconnection not discussed in the partial REE project and whose route and technology is not yet final. The section should not proceed ahead of the entire project. REE has not only ignored Europe and lied repeatedly about the project but also refused to talk to the local elected representatives who best know their territory. The gross behaviour of REE in go it alone planning is shown by the contemptuous treatment of the birthplace of the historical home of Catalonia's first president of modern times, Prat de la Riba, where he was married.

The commercial forest owners of Consorci Forestal de Catalunya point out the new line does nothing to improve electricity service nor is it needed for the high speed train as France but also Spain show with 220 kV lines used in the Seville and Barcelona tracks to Madrid. Compacting lines is also a bad excuse. If the European Interconnection is the real reason for this section, the project must be presented in its entirety. Moreover access roads have not been studied, because REE admits it does not have the data but cynically states new access roads through mature forests are positive for the environment. 

Forest owners association Consorci Forestal de Catalunya also complain about the low level of compensations so that REE is getting land for free, paying just 0.5% of the investment in expropriations:

	"It is inadmissible that the line is done at the expense of imposing new rights of way 	and costs on the environment and the rural population without just compensation. The 	planned compensations are absolutely insufficient, fixed at the ridiculous figure of 	230,000 euros, lower than the engineering fees for the project. Out of a total budget of 	40,285,000 euros it means spending less than 0.5% of the planned investment on 	the affected parties."

Private properties are seriously affected, with one company accounting a loss in value of 3.5 million euros or 60% of the original book value of 6 million euros. This loss for just one property is 15 times more than what REE is compensating for expropriating 558 properties for the entire Sentmenat-Bescanó section, with an average compensation of 412 euros per property. 

Environmentalists and mayors affected by the line have made official complaints in common to the Supreme Court, to the Council of Ministers and to the Catalan Ombudsman:
	1. Environmental impact worsened as project advances.

	2. The European Interconnection not presented as a single project.
 
	3. If France backs down, the line is useless.
 
	4. Lies on the extent of the project made finding the right alternatives impossible.
 
In one of the rare answers to an affected party REE repeats the lie the project has nothing to do with the European Interconnection:

	"The current project does not contemplate as an objective the Interconnection with 	France."

Strictly speaking true since the first section Sentmenat-Bescanó does not interconnect with France...

The affected parties list a series of alternatives:

	1) Undergrounding: The Spanish transmission monopoly did reply to the Diputació de 	Girona, which represents all municipalities in Girona rejecting undergrounding on 	environmental grounds (!). We will discuss undergrounding further in the final chapter 	since this seems to be the most important question to be resolved and the REE answers 	are entirely misleading.

	2) Security: The environmental agency of the Girona municipalities CILMA has 	commissioned a study of the security situation of the Girona network showing six 	different scenarios which improve the current situation of overloads by renovating 	various options of 25/110/1342/220 kV lines without requiring a 400 kV line at all.

	3) Infrastructure corridor: The route chosen by REE over mountainous terrain ignores 	that there is already a major infrastructure corridor from Barcelona to France that 	concentrates road, rail, water and electricity connections.

	4) Energy efficiency: If infrastructure corridors are not the answer the alternative is to 	increase efficiency rather than provide new high power lines. 

	5) Generation closer to consumers: Girona has a huge generation deficit and instead 	of importing 75% of its electricity, Girona could develop local generation capacity.

	6) Better management of the system: The blackout scare in Girona used as an 	argument for the new line in the 2008 CESI report of the European Coordinator was 	due to mismanagement by a centralised system in Madrid far from the producing and 	consuming centres in Catalonia.

	7) Renovate the Girona network: The distribution network in Girona has not had 	significant investment in over 20 years, the real problem for which the new 400 kV is 	no alternative. 

	8) Biased choice by the transmission monopolies: The choice is based on data supplied 	by the transmission monopolies who referee their own match.
REE has fragmented the European Interconnection into seven parts: four sections for the overhead line, including a small feed for the high speed train and three for the substations, all of which have their separate and supposedly independent Environmental Impact Statements. Environmentalists, mayors and Catalan government officials question this illegal sectioning of the European Interconnection. SEO/Birdlife points out the illegality of fragmenting a project like the European Interconnection, the mayor of Bescanó adds defencelessness and the impossibility of a public hearing and of real alternatives, and the Catalan government complains the Riudarenes feed is part of the European Interconnection whose need must first be proven for the high speed train:

	1. The high speed train and the European Interconnection require a single 	Environmental Impact Statement.

	2. The European Court does not accept fragmentation (Sentence C392/96).
 
	3. A fragmented project must incorporate all the project (Directive EC 	85/337).
 
	4. Defencelessness and impossibility of a public hearing.
	
	5. Absence of real alternatives. 

	6. European Interconnection hidden and need not proven. 

REE is well aware it is acting illegally as the Riudarenes substation section of the European Interconnection shows. The Spanish transmission monopoly argues it voluntarily provides an unnecessary Environmental Impact Statement and moreover linked to a larger project as the environmentalists, the mayors and indeed Catalan government official argued all along:

	"This Environmental Impact Statement is presented to coincide with the feed line into 	and out of Riudarenes of the Sentmenat-Vic-Bescanó line, given the link between both 	projects in order that both can be evaluated together."

Second REE Fragmentation: Riudarenes Feed

REE argues that the section feeding Riudarenes is for the high speed train exclusively. The first section Sentmenat-Bescanó had no real alternatives, but by 2007 REE had to at least follow the letter of the law and the Riudarenes 15 km feed does have alternatives, two false and four real:

	First false alternative: Do nothing: The Environmental Impact Statement requires 	to analyse whether doing nothing is not the best. REE writes a self serving essay, with 	no numbers arguing that although "clearly" it is best to do nothing, the high speed 	train has "no viable alternative."

	Second false alternative: Undergrounding: The Catalan government and the mayors 	had asked for this alternative in 2006. No surprise REE discovers undergrounding 	would be best on the plain than in the mountainous route. Obviously undergrounding 	is not an option, and REE goes so far as to write an undocumented annex against 	undergrounding ever, which contradicts its own practices. This is seen in the first real 	option below where REE discards the Girona airport route by not considering the 	obvious solution of undergrounding as it has done in Madrid airport.
 
	First real alternative: The airport route: REE had agreed with the Catalan 	government that the 400 kV line follow the high speed train in a ground inspection on 	29 November 2004. This corridor REE admits is the best alternative but rejects it 	alternative because of Girona airport, although REE admits the 110 kV and 132 kV 	lines will be undergrounded. Why not then the 400 kV line?

	Second real alternative: The airport detour: To avoid undergrounding REE is willing 	to double the length of the route causing major environmental impacts.
 
	Third real alternative: Population detour: Again a major impact on the environment.
 
	Fourth real alternative: The mixed detour: The chosen alternative is an intermediate 	solution avoiding the airport and the population at the expense of the environment and, 	at 19 kms almost equally long as the airport detour. This abrupt forest route has a high 	risk of forest fires REE admits: "The potential fire risk in the studied area is very 	high."

Third REE Fragmentation: Riudarenes Substation

The location has been moved arbitrarily 11 kms southwest from the original project of the European Interconnection. The technical reasons for the shift are not convincing with operational data ommitted for the new location of Riudarenes in a degraded situation and only considered for normal operations. Most likely it is the fear that the original placement in Maçanet de la Selva would make much more logical the use for the high speed train of the 220 kV network as in Barcelona, taking away the major justification for the 400 kV European Interconnection. As internal REE documents have revealed, Maçanet de la Selva lies in a major blackout risk area which would have to be upgraded and renovated if a substation were built there. 

Fourth REE Fragmentation: Bescanó-Santa Llogaia 400 kV Line

This third section of the European Interconnection, presented by REE in March 2008 hides the European nature of the project, arguing it connects Riudarenes and Santa Llogaia substations for the high speed train and also provides better service to Girona. Renovating existing lines is rejected for pedestrian reasons and in passing the European Interconnection is mentioned as if it were a parallel event:

	"Alternative measures with less impact reinforcing the current network are discarded 	because these are often situated in the interior of towns. They would be 	insufficient...as has been shown in more recent studies associated with the behaviour 	of the Interconnection France-Spain."

Having discarded without study the real alternative of renovating existing lines, the two alternatives presented are a route avoiding populations or a route following the road, rail and electricity corridor. Because officials keep demanding an underground solution, again an essay rejecting this is added, although interestingly REE admits the route chosen, the infrastructures corridor, could be a good parallel route for eventual undergrounding, the first time there is no frontal rejection of undergrounding by REE:

	"Several officials have asked that the line follow an underground solution. If this were 	the case there would be certain parallel benefits, since the rights of way could be 	coupled together. "

One of the officials asking for a parallel track was Catalan employment and industry minister Josep Maria Rañé, who also pointed out this section was part of the European Interconnection:

	"It is obvious this route is conditioned by the specific point of interconnection which 	must be agreed between the governments of Spain and France. The best option would 	be to follow the high speed train track."

The Catalan environment ministry says the same, pointing out this avoids destroying protected areas. Their brief states specifically however not knowing whether the 400 kV line is necessary at all or even required for the high speed train. A call for more sense by REE in the European Interconnection is also made by the body grouping all municipalities in the area, the Diputació de Girona, asking for consensus and participation, real alternatives and an open discussion on undergrounding, and infrastructure corridors to avoid fragmenting the countryside. Undergrounding would internalise externalities, minimise forest fires and save in maintenance.

Fifth REE Fragmentation: Ramis Substation

REE is well aware of the illegality of presenting a single project in fragments and for the fifth fragmentation, the Ramis substation, for the first time volunteers an Environmental Impact Statement parallel to the Bescanó-Santa Llogaia line discussed above. However there is no mention of the European Interconnection both fragmentations belong to. This sudden change of heart by REE is the result of the new laws of the Aarhus Convention of 2006 which until now had been ignored by the Spanish transmission monopoly but in 2008 can no longer do so with this second section of the European Interconnection and attached substations:

	"Law 9/2006 introduces into Spanish Law the environmental statements of plans and 	programmes as a Precautionary instrument integrating environmental questions in 	decision making and incorporating into our national legislation Directive 2001/42/CE 	of the European Parliament...in which transparency and participation are guaranteed." 

Unfortunately, the REE project is still partial, not presented in its entirety from Sentmenat to Baixàs, or with sufficient transparency when the three new fragments of 2008 still pretend they have nothing to do with the larger picture, and with participation still non-existent. So much for transparency and participation.

Sixth REE Fragmentation: Santa Llogaia Substation

REE does not admit the Santa Llogaia substation will connect to France, since this is where the French section from Baixàs ends, and no mention of the European Interconnection is made which requires a joint Environmental Impact Statement following REE's argument in the previous fragment of the Ramis substation as part of the Bescanó-Ramis-Santa Llogaia line. Likewise the Santa Llogaia substation is part of the Bescanó-Santa Llogaia-Baixàs line. This line is not simply a feed as stated by REE to the substation, like is true for the Riudarenes case above, but part of the European Interconnection.

Seventh REE Fragmentation: Santa Llogaia-French Frontier 400 kV Line

There is no agreement on crossing the Pyrenees. The planners of Barcelona Regional provided three options admitting that the line has a strong opposition and that a decision based solely on environmental grounds is flawed, first and foremost because the line obviously has a major environmental impact which currently is not valued, but also because electric, social and economic aspects are not taken into account:

	"Electric lines raise a strong opposition against. The decision on one or the other 	alternative cannot be taken only on environmental and territorial grounds important 	as they surely are. The current study has not considered other valuations equally 	determinant such as electric, sociological and economic factors which should be 	valued. Be as it may the most controversial impact is on the environment and 	territory. These aspects are difficult to value."

The criteria used in plotting by Barcelona Regional are 100 m minimum distance to isolated buildings, 500 m minimum distance to urban areas and variable width of the right of way 20- 50 m. These are the only three real variables used to plot the three alternative routes over the Pyrenees. Barcelona Regional evaluated by giving an arbitrary five points in the four grades of colours for ten impacts. The route parallel to the high speed train is the most favourable.

The European Interconnection Sentmenat-Bescanó-Baixàs reveals unresolved conflicts which are common both to the go it alone do as you please REE first section as well as to the entire top down project with severe global impacts on the environment, efficiency, renewable energy, price differentials, non-trade barriers and transparency and participation.

1 Unresolved Environmental Impacts: The route crosses unique habitats protected by the European Union (Directive 79/409/CEE) as well as by the Catalan government with full responsibility on the Catalan environment (Law 22/2003).

 	-Severe impact on animal life: Directly affects the migration route of Central 	European birds to Africa. Nestlings affected of the hobby, honey buzzard, short-toed 	eagle, peregrine falcon and eagle owl. Camping area affected for gliders such as the 	Griffon vulture and booted eagle. Affects hunting grounds of the bat. The line 	crosses ponds with the best preserved populations of pond turtles. Affects a protected 	area for especially abundant snakes.

-Severe impact on plant life: The line crosses virgin forest with severe impacts from the towers, access roads and permanent clearings. Mediterranean trees affected are corks and oaks. Increased risk of forest fires. The line crosses ponds with protected fragile plants: pond orchids, meadow grass, fragile oats and grazing marshes.

-Severe impact on geological sites: Affects volcanic chimneys, lava flows a 	hydrothermal fountain and special rock formations.
-Severe impact on ponds: Several ponds affected.

-Severe impact on archaeological sites: Thirteen archaeological structures affected 	within 500 m of the line from the Palaeolithic, Ferro-Iberian and Roman periods. 

2 Unresolved Efficiency and Renewable Energy: The energy transport system in Catalonia is highly centralised, built around two arteries from the production centres to the consumption centres of Barcelona and Tarragona from the three nuclear power stations in Southwest Catalonia and from the hydroelectric dams in the Pyrenees of Northwest Catalonia. There is no direct planning for efficiency, with the best prediction reducing electricity growth only 1% in total until 2015. However there are important indirect energy saving measures through the growth in renewable energies to reduce dependence on high cost fuel imports. This could increase efficiency by promoting a decentralised micro-net distribution system, but by favouring centralisation the top down European Interconnection contradicts this natural evolution reinforcing an outdated system which is no longer efficient and too costly in imports and with energy losses established at 8,5% of generated electricity. Efficiency concerns don't seem to matter in a monopolistic environment and in this sense decentralised renewable energy is not welcome either.

3 Unresolved Price Differentials: The European Interconnection will not increase trade from Europe because Spanish electricity prices are below the market average for EU 15. Spanish prices were close to European prices in 1996 but have evolved downward, noticeably so since 2002 both for domestic and industrial users. 

So long as Spanish prices remain competitively below European levels, there can be no increase in electricity imports from Europe except for spot purchases to cover peak demands and power incidences. The new European Interconnection will remain grossly underutilised. Spain is not an island as Europe portrays with 17 interconnections with France, Andorra, Portugal and Morocco. 

A trade deficit with France makes hard to see how imports can increase further given the current price differential in favour of Spain. Real electricity prices fell by one third (32%) 1997-2005 and cannot be considered high in European terms. These lower prices in Spain make wishful thinking the European top down approach that a new interconnection will increase trade from Europe, but has the added negative effect on prices that not all costs are incorporated, distorting planning by ignoring environmental costs and impacts on the countryside as the Spanish White Paper on electricity admits. 

4 Unresolved Trade Barriers: The new European Interconnection not only ignores that an increase in trade cannot take place from Europe to Spain so long as Spanish prices are significantly lower, but also that non-price trade barriers make an increase in trade impossible as the Spanish White Paper details with variable prices used in France and marginal prices in Spain, a first come first served policy without an auction, and transaction limits.

5 Unresolved Transparency and Participation: The Spanish White Paper on Electricity criticises transmission monopoly REE for the unresolved problem of participation and consensus which is essential to carry out planned investments without conflicts and transparency which is good administration and helps a better distribution of production with new entrants. This monopolistic behaviour by REE, criticised extensively by the Spanish White Paper should not be ratified by the European Union turning a blind eye to the fait accompli of the first section Sentmenat-Bescanó started without a global agreement. No surprise then that the White Paper identifies social opposition as the main obstacle to building new overhead lines. Unlike roads, which are socially accepted, locals cannot make a direct use of overhead lines, designed for long distance transport without any local benefit nor improvement in the quality of the local service.
 
The Spanish White Paper on Electricity proposes compensations should be part of the planning process so that local populations and the environment are adequately taken into account. 

In Spain one quarter of the territory is protected so that it is impossible not to plan an overhead line which does not cross protected land. This official petition that overhead lines be properly costed for the local population and the environment has been totally ignored by the transmission monopoly REE. The White Paper makes more sense than the European and Spanish officials excusing the inexcusable behaviour of the Spanish transmission monopoly.

Chapter 5: Official Admissions of Lies, Irregularities and Illegalities

The Spanish Ministry of the Environment admitted IAEDEN on 11th April 2008 as the first Interested Person in the European Priority Electricity Interconnection Project EL 3 according to the 27/2006 law incorporating the Aarhus Convention:

"En contestación a su solicitud de personación en el proyecto 2005/0066 "Línea eléctrica a 400 kV Bescanó-Figueres-frontera francesa y S/Figueres le informo que ha sido dado de alta en el sistema informático SABIA de la Subdirección General de Evaluación Ambiental."

Before being admitted as an Interested Person according to the Aarhus Convention the groups questioning the European Interconnection had been systematically boycotted by the Spanish transmission monopoly REE and by officials in Spain and Europe as documented in their complaint to European Coordinator Mario Monti:

1) Boycott by the Spanish transmission monopoly REE: In 2006 the president of REE, former socialist agriculture minister Luis Atienza refused to provide any data on the new line arguing it was private, personal and not subject to public information. As the president of AMMAT, mayor Paulí Fernàndez, countered:

"No vemos que exista relación entre la Ley de Propiedad Intelectual que invocan en su escrito y la imposibilidad de facilitar la información interesada dado que el art. 2 de la Ley 1/1996 está integrado por derechos de carácter personal y patrimonial que se atribuyen al autor y no creemos que puedan atribuirse la autoría de tales datos. Tampoco se vulnera los derechos y libertades protegidos en la Ley 15/1999 de Protección de Datos de Carácter Personal, puesto que se trata de datos de carácter objetivo que no revisten naturaleza de carácter personal. Aluden a la naturaleza mercantil privada de REE alegando que, al no tratarse de Administración Pública, no se encuentran obligados en virtud del principio de cooperación que establece la Ley 30/1992 a hacer frente a la petición efectuada por la asociación de municipios que presido. No obstante y a tenor de lo previsto en el artículo 43 de la Ley 6/1997 de Organización y Funcionamiento de la Administración del Estado, las entidades públicas empresariales que dependen de un ministerio o un organismo autónomo se rigen por los criterios de gestión de servicios. Entendemos que REE tiene por objeto la gestión de un servicio público de primera necesidad como es la energía eléctrica."

2) Boycott by the Spanish government: The administration responsible for electricity also refused to supply information:
"Debemos aclarar que los datos solicitados no se encuentran en poder de esta Dirección General por lo que no es posible atender a su petición."

3) Boycott by the European Union: The European Coordinator did not answer a letter of complaints on 5 December 2007 but AMMAT and IAEDEN were finally met for the first time by his secretary Alain Baron in Brussels on 26 February 2008 at which the quoted dossier was handed over which remained unanswered at the time of writing this study.

This official boycott has ceased with the admission as Interested Persons according to the Aarhus Convention. REE has submitted internal documents which the Spanish government has cooperated in obtaining. Mario Monti also held an official meeting providing written answers for the first time to AMMAT and IAEDEN. At the official meeting with the European Coordinator of the EL3 Project held in the European Union's offices in Barcelona on the 29th April 2008, IAEDEN submitted a formal request to be incorporated as an Interested Party in his official report:

"As president of the Institució Altempordanesa per a la Defensa i Estudi de la Natura (IAEDEN) of Figueres, and acting on behalf of the Plataforma NO A LA MAT, I would like to inform you that IAEDEN has been recognised as an Interested Party by the Spanish Ministry of the Environment in the process for the Spanish part of the EL3 Project Sentmenat-Bescanó-Baixàs. According to Regulation EC1367/2006 of the European Parliament and Council on the application of the provision of the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters to Community Institutions and Bodies, specifically article 1.1c of the General Provisions providing for public participation concerning plans and programmes relating to the environment. I ask you that IAEDEN be formally recognized as an Interested Party in the process for the whole EL3 Project of European Interest and to be consulted accordingly. Moreover I ask you to incorporate in your report the ongoing study by our adviser Josep C. Vergés which I attach to you."

In this meeting in Barcelona European Coordinator Mario Monti gave written answers to the multiple questions raised at his request on both sides of the Pyrenees by Non à la THT, IAEDEN and AMMAT on the CESI working paper presented by him in Perpignan and Girona in March 2008. The answers include written statements by the French RTE and the Spanish REE transmission monopolies, the Spanish Ministry of Industry, the European Commission Directorate-General for Energy and Transport and the European Coordinator's consultant CESI who coordinated the paper. What is most astonishing is the admission by official participants of illegal and irregular behaviour:

5.1 The Non à la THT Question

Only one question was tabled in France for the European Coordinator on his CESI interim report. The Public Hearing in France had led to an ample exchange of points of view, with wide-ranging questions studied by the same consultant CESI. This atmosphere of democratic and open bottom up consultation has produced a negotiated solution of full undergrounding only in France. 

Non à la THT wanted to know about their security as formulated by the new CESI report: "En cas de perte d'une ligne Gaudière-Baixas, l'alimentation resterait assurée mais de manière précaire, car un défaut sur la ligne Gaudière-Baixas restante ne permettrait plus d'alimenter la région, les apports par les lignes issues de Vic et des Pyrénées n'étant en général pas suffisants pour couvrir la consommation." Nous souhaitons connaître les critères retenus dans cette analyse concernant la sécurité, les capacités d'interconnexion...

RTE and REE reply: "Les critères et explications complémentaires ayant conduit à la conclusion mentionnée dans le rapport CESI sont les suivants: 

a) La ligne 150 kV issue des Pyrénées a un apport faible (quelques dizaines de MW seulement) et très dépendant des conditions de production des usines hydrauliques. Compte tenu de sa longueur (et des problèmes de tension qui en résultent) son apport sur la région de Perpignan peut ne pas excéder 20 à 30 MW.

b) La ligne 400 kV Baixàs-Vic a une capacité de transit de l'ordre de 1500 MVA (en été), bien supérieure à la valeur que peut atteindre la consommation des Pyrénées Orientales autour de Perpignan (de l'ordre, aujourd'hui, de 350 MW).

c) La capacité de la ligne 400 kV Vic-Pierola en Espagne, qui est la deuxième ligne 400 kV aboutissant à Vic, est d'environ 950 MVA (en été) ; c'est pratiquement la seule ligne d'alimentation de la région de Gérone, avec une ligne double 225 kV de capacité faible, à mettre en regard d'une consommation qui atteint aujourd'hui 850 à 900 MVA en été...L'Espagne n'a pas la possibilité de fournir, dans les conditions de consommation à la pointe, la demande de la région de Gérone et, en plus, celle de la région de Perpignan.
 
d) Des travaux sont prévus sur le réseau espagnol pour augmenter, sur les années 2009-2010, les capacités de la ligne 400 kV Vic-Pierola et du réseau 225 kV sous-jacent." 

Comment: Both transmission monopolies recognise that the present Girona network is substandard because there has been no renovation in existing 225/400 kV lines.

5.2 The NO A LA MAT Questions

In Spanish Catalonia, in stark contrast to the democratic tradition in France, no public consultation has taken place despite since 2006 the same European laws apply of bottom up participation. This was the first time an official, albeit European and not Spanish or Catalan, answered a written questionnaire, of necessity quite extensive, on the European Project.
Question 1: CESI presented in 2003 four different detailed alternatives renovating existing interconnections through the Pyrenees to guarantee security. Why have all these alternatives disappeared from the new report?

CESI reply: "Les alternatives sur les possibles renforcements des lignes existantes sera présenté lors des réunions de Gérone et Perpignan le 29 et 30 avril 2008."

Comment: The report on the alternatives renovating existing interconnections through the Pyrenees has not been released at the time of writing this report.

Question 2: Wind farms are the new security concern, with no data given, but the report twice denies they are a problem.

a) CESI reply: "En réalité ce qui est mentionné souligne que “dans le futur les problèmes d’instabilité du réseau causés par le déclenchement intempestif des unités éoliennes seront diminués" mais pas éliminés totalement. Le problème évoqué (stabilité de la tension) est seulement un des problèmes qui militent en faveur de l’augmentation de la capacité d’échange transfrontalière. En effet nous rappelons que "Le fait que pour accepter une plus grande quantité d’énergie renouvelable non contrôlable il soit nécessaire de renforcer le réseau de transport, a déjà été mis en évidence par plusieurs études."

b) REE reply: "Los aerogeneradores que se instalan en la actualidad sí soportan cortocircuitos, y los instalados más recientemente son relativamente fáciles de adaptar. Se estima que al final de 2008 todavía quedarán 7.000 MW de generación eólica que no soporta los cortocircuitos. No se sabe seguro cuantos quedarán de forma permanente sin adaptar pero se estima que serán al menos 3.000 MW." 

Comment: The Spanish transmission monopoly recognises that all new wind farms and most established ones have the correct technology to avoid short-circuits. This technology is cheap and easy to install. It makes no sense to develop large and costly infrastructure instead of simpler and cheaper technology for securisation.

Question 3: What happened to the old argument about the new interconnection being needed for security of the high speed train which has now completely disappeared?

a) RTE reply on the French section: "Les conclusions du débat public ayant amené RTE à étudier d’autres solutions alternatives pour la ligne d’interconnexion, il a fallu adopter en l’absence du projet 400 kV initialement prévu une solution différente pour l’alimentation de la sous-station TGV: c’est une alimentation en 225 kV qui a été choisie. Les liaisons issues du poste 225 kV sont à ce jour installées; elles seront définitivement mises en service en juillet 2008."

b) REE reply on the Spanish section: "Aunque originalmente la definición de la interconexión completa era Sentmenat-Bescanó-Baixàs, los retrasos en esta infraestructura completa debidos a una falta de acuerdo sobre el paso de cruce de la frontera, llevaron a la petición por parte de la administración central y regional (Generalitat de Catalunya) a tramitar de forma separada los tramos Sentmenat-Bescanó, Bescanó-Santa Llogaia y Santa Llogaia-frontera francesa. 

La alimentación del tren de alta velocidad requiere la capacidad de suministrar unos 60 MW por punto de suministro (cada 60-70 km), lo cual no es asumible por la red actual, la cual ya tiene grandes dificultades para atender la demanda actual. A ésta incapacidad de suministrar la potencia, evaluada en el análisis de flujos, se le debe añadir un análisis de calidad de suministro. Para poder suministrar a una carga monofásica como la del tren de alta velocidad, sin perjudicar al resto de agentes conectados a la red, es necesario que el punto de suministro tenga una adecuada potencia de cortocircuito (Pcc). Es necesario que la subestación de conexión sea suficientemente “fuerte y estable”, es decir, que tenga un valor elevado de potencia de cortocircuito. Se prevé por tanto que el tren de alta velocidad tenga alimentaciones en las futuras subestaciones de Riudarenes 400 kV y Santa Llogaia 400 kV. En la zona de Barcelona sí será posible alimentar el tren de alta velocidad desde algunos nudos de 220 kV gracias a que dichos nudos están muy mallados y tienen suficiente potencia de cortocircuito."

Comment: The French transmission monopoly RTE recognises it has renovated an existing 225 kV line for the high speed train. REE can do the same in Girona as it has already done in Barcelona. The Spanish transmission monopoly admits that the interconnection is from Sentmenat to Baixàs, but delays and lack of agreement have made Spanish authorities pretend the two sections wholly inside Spain were not part of the European Project. This written admission of illegality will be fully pursued in Spanish and European courts should the European Commission and the European Coordinator not raise this issue of illegality with the Spanish government. The Spanish transmission monopoly admits the high speed train runs perfectly well on a 220 kV junction in Barcelona but not in Girona because of the bad state of the network. Why isn't the Girona network renovated before a new line is built, not after?

Question 4: Why does the report start with the lie that the European interconnection is between Bescanó and Baixàs when later the text contradicts this as Baixàs-Bescanó-Sentmenat?

CESI reply: "Pour la définition correcte de «projet d’intérêt européen» (project of European interest) il faut se référer à la Décision 1364/2006/EC du Parlement Européen et du Conseil, qui indique dans son annexe I: Ligne Sentmenat (ES)-Bescanó-(ES)-Baixàs (FR). La première phrase devrait donc être changée comme suit: “L’axe d’interconnexion Baixàs-Bescanó-Sentmenat...”

Comment: The European Coordinator's consultants admit that the first line of their 2008 report is wrong and misleading and should state the true European interconnection Baixàs-Bescanó-Sentmenat.

Question 5: The report doesn’t mention anymore the needs of Girona but basically focuses on the need of a new electrical transportation line of international range. When it refers to Catalonia it gives two poor justifications: covering a continuous growing demand in clear contradiction with the Catalan and European recommendations to reduce the consumption, and the security of having a new line of supply in case of failure of one of the present lines, without taking into account the far cheaper, easier and faster possibility of strengthening the two obsolete lines of La Roca and Sant Celoni.

a) CESI reply: "C’est vrai: la nouvelle interconnexion entre la France et l’Espagne ne doit pas être considérée comme une infrastructure seulement pour améliorer la sécurité de l’approvisionnement des Pyrenées Orientales et de la partie nord de la Catalogne, mais bien comme une interconnexion internationale, qui donne, comme bénéfice additionnel, l’opportunité de sécuriser l’approvisionnement des deux régions."

b) REE reply: "La repotenciación del doble circuito Vic-Juià 220 kV, y de la línea Vic-Sant Celoni 220 kV se han realizado durante el año 2007. Estas (y demás) actuaciones, dada su necesidad, ya estaban contempladas. Sin embargo, realizar estos trabajos es muy difícil debido a que durante los años que llevan construidas se han consolidado numerosas urbanizaciones y viviendas tanto en su entorno inmediato como debajo de las líneas, dificultando (o imposibilitando) la actuación sobre las mismas. Por otra parte la repotenciación de estas líneas permite incrementar su capacidad, pero no de forma sustancial. Estos refuerzos son un “parche temporal.”

Comment: The Spanish transmission monopoly admits that two existing lines require urgent renovation, but has done nothing. Internal studies by REE released under the freedom of information provision of the Aarhus Convention, quoted above, show that REE is not renovating to force the interconnection. This exposed illegality will be taken to court if REE and local distribution monopoly Endesa continue to boycott the renovation of the Girona network.

Question 6: Why aren't forest fires considered as a major cost factor in overhead lines?

a) RTE reply: "La proportion des cas incriminant des lignes électriques est de toute manière très faible (moins de 5 % des cas, sur 30 % des incendies dont la cause a été identifiée -lignes de toutes tensions confondues du 220 V au 400 kV- dans les régions de France particulièrement exposées aux feux de forêts)."

b) REE reply: "Los proyectos ya realizados de las líneas Sentmenat/Vic-Bescanó, y la línea de entrada y salida en ésta desde la subestación de Riudarenes se han diseñado teniendo en todo momento en cuenta la presencia de las masas forestales presentes, la práctica totalidad de las cuales son montes maduros en los que la mayor parte del arbolado ha alcanzado ya su talla máxima. Las torres se han proyectado de forma que los conductores van a mantener distancias muy superiores a las reglamentarias a los árboles a lo largo de la vida útil de la instalación. Durante la vida de la instalación, las labores de mantenimiento permitirá evitar cualquier riesgo de incendio en relación con las líneas de la red de transporte analizadas. Durante dichas labores de mantenimiento se mantiene una vigilancia permanente de la situación de la línea respecto a las masas forestales. Por otra parte, la línea cumpliría una función de pararrayos en estas masas forestales, ya que por su propia estructura metálica y dimensiones constituye un elemento que atraen las descargas eléctricas en las tormentas."

Comment: RTE admits that high voltage lines provoke fires while REE does not answer but admits permanent clearings and a permanent watch are required, plus towers act as lightning rods. All these costs can be quantified- the 5% of forest fires caused in wetter France, the permanent clearings and watches required and the effects of lightning on consumers. CESI states high voltage lines are not the main culprits, but these costs cannot be simply excluded.

Question 7: Why isn't deforestation, and its effect on desertification and global warming considered at all, when just the Sentmenat-Bescanó section will destroy 558,329 m2 of trees?

REE reply: "Las talas se han reducido a una superficie en torno a las torres de 30 x 30 metros, a la calle de tendido de 4 metros a lo largo del trazado en el cruce de las masas forestales y a unas cortas de seguridad reducidas a los vanos 13 a 15 (25.500 m2), 39-40 (7.900 m2), y 95-8 a 95-11 (10.000 m2) exclusivamente. De acuerdo con todo ello las cortas globales a realizar no llegan al 10% de la cifra citada." 

Comment: REE contradicts its own official figures for expropriations with 558,329 m2 trees to be cut just in the Sentmenat-Bescanó section as shown in Table 3.1. Despite these published figures of tree clearings REE now pretends there will be only 43,400 m2 of deforestation, less than 8% of their officially tabled total. This is prime woodland, as REE admits when answering the previous question on forest fires. The cost of deforestation in an era of global warming must also be added when valuing the overhead line.

Question 8: What happened to sea cables which are no longer mentioned?

REE reply: "REE ha desarrollado un estudio de viabilidad medioambiental de un eventual enlace submarino Análisis de la viabilidad ambiental de la interconexión Santa Llogaia-Baixàs mediante un enlace submarino, DIMA/MA/08-084. Este análisis llega a la conclusión que esta solución es inviable desde un punto de vista ambiental, dado que implicaría la afección a espacios Red Natura 2000 (ya que toda la costa está incluida en la misma), o el cruce por zonas densamente pobladas (ya que toda la zona esta ocupada por localidades). En todo caso se señala que además del tramo submarino se debería acometerse en tierra un enlace de unos 25 kilómetros desde la costa hasta Santa Llogaia, el cual afectaría en mayor medida espacios de la red Natura 2000, que un trazado a través de la frontera."

Comment: The same month Spanish transmission monopoly REE announced a 237 km sea cable link from the Peninsula to Majorca it denies a sea cable is a feasible alternative to the Sentmenat-Bescanó-Baixàs project. Sea cables are being increasingly laid all over the world and are cost effective as shown in my study. The French environment minister is also studying a sea cable solution. It is obviously absurd to lay one just for crossing the Pyrenees but given the stated European policy to connect with Africa a sea cable along the Spanish Mediterranean coastline makes economic, political and social sense.

Question 9: Why does the report only mention the possibility of partial undergrounding without justifying technically why only a small part of the interconnection can be undergrounded?

CESI reply: "Les réponses à cette question peuvent être trouvées dans les cahiers No. 3 et 4."

Comment: These are the conclusions on the cost of overhead and underground lines in chapter two of this study: The costs of new underground cables can be broadly comparable to overhead lines and are increasingly preferred. The overhead line projected by RTE-REE does not include all health, property and environmental costs and should be budgeted at least at double the amount to compensate all affected parties and minimise impact. Undergrounding is less costly than predicted by RTE and CESI. The entire project can be laid underground at only one third more than a high end fully costed overhead line. CESI contradicts its earlier reports by now undergrounding the entire French section until just over the Pyrenees. Undergrounding is indeed an option with proper public consultation and transparent costing. 

Question 10: Why doesn’t the report mention electricity export data from Spain to Portugal?

REE reply: "Los flujos salientes de España son positivos. En la tabla 5.1 se puede ver que España es exportadora neta desde el año 2004." 

Comment: The Spanish transmission monopoly shows in a graph that Spain is a net importer of electricity from France. Combined with the answer by RTE/REE to Non à la THT, there is no problem importing electricity from France with the present interconnections. The problem identified by RTE/REE is the bad state of the Girona network which does not allow the export from Spain at the same level. This means the new interconnection in fact will be used to export electricity to Perpignan! 

Table 5.1 Spanish Electricity Exports and Imports

Note: Dark colours Spanish exports (+), light colours Spanish imports (-)
France: blues, Portugal: greens, Morocco: orange, Andorra: yellow
Source CESI 2008 from data by REE.

Question 11: Why doesn’t the report present data of all interconnections for 2006 and 2007?

REE reply: "En el informe se limitan en algunos casos a 2006 por no estar aún disponibles durante la realización del documento los datos globales de 2007 (que se cierran durante el primer trimestre de 2008)."

Comment: Another unconscionable reply by the Spanish monopoly. REE by its own admission here holds data from 2007 since the 31st March 2008, while this questionnaire was answered at the end of April 2008. There is not even an excuse given for not supplying the data for 2006. This contemptuous behaviour by the Spanish monopoly should be denounced by the European Coordinator. How can Mario Monti propose a European Interconnection when the Spanish monopoly refuses to provide up to date statistics REE admits it already has?

Question 12: Why doesn’t the report analyze the questions raised by Mr. Monti in his previous dossier?

European Commission Directorate-General for Energy and Transport reply: "Le Coordennateur européen, M. Monti, a posé plusieurs questions dans son rapport du Décembre 2007. Des réponses ont été données dans les cahiers publiés en mars. Les réponses aux questions restantes seront fournies dans les prochains cahiers."

Comment: The questions raised and yet to be answered by the European Coordinator are detailed in section 1.2 of this study and summarised in the conclusions of Chapter 1: Public opposition to the project is recognised by the European Coordinator. The exact route of the line is not yet defined. The European Coordinator adds that the need for the project is not proven and consultation, required by European and now Spanish law, has not taken place in Spanish Catalonia. He wants answers to the alternatives of reinforcing the existing Vic-Baixàs 400 kV line or laying an underground cable, as well as the compensation of affected communities, especially with renewable energy. 

Question 13: Why doesn’t the report take into account all the kilometres from La Gaudière and Baixàs, in French Catalonia, to the frontier without any substation? CESI has not assessed the needs of the French State. Why?

CESI reply: "Le mandat de CESI a été relatif au projet d’intérêt européen tel que défini dans la Décision 1364/2006/CE. Des éventuelles “faiblesses” (si existantes) à l’intérieur de la France ou de l’Espagne devraient être analysées directement par les Gestionnaires de Réseau concernés."

Comment: How can Europe impose an interconnection without first analysing the situation of the electricity networks concerned?

Question 14: The Interconnection begins at Sentmenat. Mr. Monti and the Catalan Ombudsman Síndic de Greuges Mr. Ribó, recognize it. Why doesn’t the report study all the data and all the distribution lines before stating that a new transport line of 400 kV is necessary?

a) CESI reply: "Nous ne nous sommes pas concentrés sur les besoins liés au réseau HT de distribution dans la province de Gerona ou le département de Pyrénées Orientales: cette analyse représenterait un genre différent d'étude qui, tout en partant d’une structure prédéfinie du réseau THT, analyserait les niveaux plus bas de tension et les possibles renforcements pour garantir localement la sécurité de l’approvisionnement et la qualité de la fourniture."

b) REE reply: "El desarrollo de la red de distribución es competencia de los gestores de distribución la zona (Endesa en Cataluña, y EDF en Pirineos Orientales)." 

Comment: The Spanish transmission monopoly admits that the Girona network is not adequately maintained by the local electricity monopoly supplier Endesa. Why isn't the failure of Endesa to renovate its network studied as an alternative to a new high voltage line?

Question 15: Why doesn’t the report mention the need for energy saving, efficiency and demand control, etc., instead of only considering consumption growth in a scenario of economic recession?

a) CESI reply: "Nous avons basé notre analyse sur les scénarios de moyen-long terme déjà disponibles. De toute façon, quand nous avons présenté la nécessité d’augmentation de la capacité transfrontalière d’échange, nous avons explicitement considéré le scénario “high efficiency and high RES penetration”, qui donne les estimations les plus cohérentes avec la politique de l’UE établie dans le «livre Vert» (mars 2006) et réaffirmée dans le Conseil des Chefs de Gouvernement (mars 2007)."

b) REE reply: "CESI hace referencia a las puntas previstas de demanda a futuro en España: en 2016 63,2 GW en un escenario base y 58,7 GW en un escenario de eficiencia. Estos datos se obtienen del documento de “Planificación de los Sectores de Electricidad y Gas 2007-2016. Desarrollo de las redes de transporte” Primer borrador de julio de 2007 elaborado por el Ministerio de Industria. Se hace además, una especial mención a los aspectos relativos al ahorro y la eficiencia energética considerando los planes de acción de la “Estrategia de Ahorro y Eficiencia en España” (E4) y escenarios que proyectan sobre 2016 los esfuerzos que habrían de adoptarse ya para lograr los objetivos señalados a nivel de UE para 2020. Por otra parte, a la hora diseñar infraestructuras como las redes de transporte de energía eléctrica, no se deben considerar tan sólo los valores de crecimiento de demanda inferiores ó más favorables, ya que en caso de que no se cumplan por cualquier razón, se correría el riesgo de no mantenerse condiciones adecuadas de suministro, y tener poco tiempo de respuesta ante tales eventos."

Comment: CESI recognises it has ignored the economic cycle by using medium and long term predictions at least three years out of date and most likely with reliable figure only to 2004. REE use the same lags despite knowing the data up to 2008 and rejects any efficiency and demand reduction measures because of the "risk" not to plan for high growth. This high growth scenario contradicts the global warming and high energy cost realities which should be the real priority of the European Commission and its European Coordinator rather than pandering to an irresponsible monopoly like REE that admits to a substandard network in Girona and no intention in promoting energy saving measures. Overplanning is a curious response to efficiency concerns and to the fact that the practice of the Madrid electrical monopolies in Catalonia has been on the contrary underinvestment.

Question 16: The report is exclusively based on data from REE and RTE, so clearly partial and slanted. Besides, it lacks quantitative evaluations of the possible benefits from a new interconnection because the authors didn’t make numerical simulations due to lack of time. That would be enough to discredit it.

CESI reply: "Pour conduire des analyses sur les exigences de renforcements du réseau de transport il faut se référer aux données officielles à la disposition des Gestionnaires. En réalité, pour être le plus « équilibré » possible, nous avons croisé et complété les informations en demandant aussi aux Autorités de Régulation du secteur électrique en France (CRE) et en Espagne (CNE), notamment en ce qui concerne les mécanismes d’allocation de la capacité, les coûts et la résolution des congestions."

Comment: CESI reaffirms the status quo by not questioning the figures provided by the transmission monopolies when not contradicted by the national regulators on capacity, costs and congestion. How can a new line not consider theses vital elements? Capacity: a new line is no substitute to the renovation of the substandard network in Girona. Costs: a deficiently costed overhead line cannot be justified. Congestion: one way congestion from Spain to France due to this substandard Girona network requiring permanent standby energy which could be otherwise exported is not a sufficient argument for building the new line.

Question 17: Is the European Interconnection Project from Sentmenat to Baixàs via Bescanó?

	CESI Reply: "Voir la réponse a la question 4 se rapportant à la Décision 	1364/2006/CE."

Comment: Instead of a simple yes, CESI refers back to question 4 where it admits to lying about the length of the European Interconnection. So the comment to the question is also repeated here: The European Coordinator's consultants admit that the first line of their 2008 report is wrong and misleading and should state the true European interconnection Baixàs-Bescanó-Sentmenat.

Question 18: Has the European Coordinator to report on the Interconnection Project or just on one section of it?

European Commission Directorate-General for Energy and Transport reply: "La lettre de mission du coordonnateur définit clairement la portée de son mandat : «La Commission vous a désigné comme Coordonnateur Européen pour le projet d’intérêt européen EL.3: France-Espagne-Portugal relatif en particulier à l’interconnexion entre la France et l’Espagne Sentmenat (ES)-Bescanό (ES)-Baixàs (FR), telle que définie à l'Annexe I de la décision CE/1364/2006/ du Parlement Européen et du Conseil du 6 septembre 2006 qui fixe les orientations en matière de Réseaux Transeuropéens d’Energie (RTE-T)». Par conséquent, son rapport couvrira la section susmentionnée de la ligne d’interconnexion."

Comment: The European Commission also admits that the European Coordinator's brief is over the entire Sentmenat-Bescanó-Baixàs line and promises to report on its entirety, which so far has not happened.

Question 19: Why have no public hearings been held in Spanish Catalonia, contradicting Spanish and European Law?
Spanish Ministry of Industry reply: "La normativa medioambiental española es, como no podía ser menos, plenamente respetuosa con el marco regulatorio comunitario, e incorpora los mecanismos que garantizan el derecho de participación pública contemplado en las Directivas europeas. Tales mecanismos pueden diferir de un Estado miembro a otro. Por ejemplo, en Francia, se ha optado por el procedimiento denominado Debate Público. En lo que se refiere al proyecto de línea entre Sentmenat y Bescanó, en el BOE de 6 mayo 2005 se publicó la Resolución de Autorización Administrativa según las normas establecidas en el Decreto 1131/1988 que aprueba el Reglamento de Evaluación de Impacto Ambiental, habiendo sido formulada la correspondiente Declaración de Impacto Ambiental (DIA) mediante Resolución del 24 mayo 2004. En el anexo 2 se detallan los alegantes (Tabla 4.6). El BOE 26 enero 2008 ha publicado el Decreto 1/2008 de 11 enero que aprueba el texto refundido de la Ley de Evaluación de Impacto Ambiental de proyectos."
Comment: The Spanish government admits it has used an old pre-European law from 1988, invalidated in 2006, to proceed with the Sentmenat-Bescanó section, avoiding this 2006 law which incorporates the European law on the Aarhus Convention. The Sentmenat-Bescanó section was approved by the Spanish government in 2007 one year after the 2006 law which should have applied. The Bescanó-Santa Llogaia section has yet to be published with no excuse to apply European and Spanish law on public hearings with interested parties. These public hearings have nothing to do with the allegations received by the ministry from those expropriated. Moreover neither the Spanish government nor REE have answered the vast majority of the 736 allegations made. AMMAT and IAEDEN have still to be heard by Spanish authorities despite being officially named interested parties according to the Aarhus Convention incorporated into Spanish and European law.

The Spanish transmission monopoly admits that the complete line is Sentmenat-Bescanó-Baixàs and should be seen as such for all intents and purposes. Spanish law and Spanish courts do not accept that a single project be cut up into several sections in order to avoid complying with stated procedures. REE writes it has done this on orders from the Spanish government. The European Coordinator should ask for these written orders of illegality and act accordingly.

Table 5.2 Complaints Against the Sentmenat-Bescanó Section

Alegantes	Número	%	

Ayuntamientos y Consells Comarcals	
21	
3%	
Instituciones públicas	5	1%	
Asociaciones ecologistas	6	1%	
Particulares, empresas y asociaciones privadas	704	95%	
Total alegantes	736	100%	

Source: Elaborated from CESI 2008 with data from the Spanish Ministry of Industry

Question 20: Why isn't the Precautionary Principle applied to a project going ahead despite no final decision having yet been taken? The wrong route, the wrong technical solution and the wrong costs risks are rushed through from top down.

REE reply: "Aunque en su origen la definición de la interconexión completa era Sentmenat-Bescanó-Baixàs, lo que supone considerar un sólo proyecto y una sola tramitación, los retrasos en esta infraestructura completa debidos a una falta de acuerdo sobre el paso de cruce de la frontera, llevaron a la petición por parte de la Administración central y regional (Generalitat de Catalunya) a tramitar de forma separada los tramos Sentmenat-Bescanó, Bescanó-Santa Llogaia y Santa Llogaia-frontera francesa, ante la urgencia de dar un apoyo desde la red de transporte a la alimentación de la red de distribución de Gerona y la alimentación del tren de alta velocidad. El tramo Sentmenat-Bescanó 400 kV está aprobado por el Ministerio, y cuenta con la aprobación medioambiental, ha pasado las consultas públicas y por tanto se encuentra en condiciones de ser construido. Efectivamente, este tramo está en construcción."

Comment: REE repeats its undocumented allegations in question 3 that the Spanish monopoly was forced by the Spanish and Catalan governments to proceed illegally with the first section Sentmenat-Bescanó of the European Interconnection. REE adds that this was due to the bad state of the Girona network it manages and co-owns. Internal REE documents released through the freedom of information provision of the Aarhus Convention prove REE can renovate, together with co-owner distribution monopoly Endesa, the Girona network but chooses not to do so, perhaps to force the installation of the new line. The strategy revealed is to undertake only essential investment in Girona until the new line is built.

REE's second argument for the emergency requiring illegal actions is the high speed train which is far from operational in Girona. REE contradicts its own answer to question 3 admitting REE uses the same 225 kV solution as RTE in France for the operational Barcelona high speed train. The 400 kV European Interconnection is definitely not needed for the high speed train, which explains why all mention has been removed from the 2008 CESI report subject to these Interested Party questions and official answers.

Question 21: Why doesn't the overhead line include all relevant costs- health, property and environmental?

a) CESI reply: "Il n’y a ni de données disponibles ni de méthodes consolidées pour évaluer de façon quantitative ces aspects tant pour les lignes aériennes que pour les câbles." 

b) REE reply: "No existen métodos de evaluación, ni datos disponibles para evaluar el coste medioambiental, a la salud o el de propiedad, ni para líneas aéreas ni soterradas. Asignar un valor económico a estos aspectos podría en primer lugar, y sobretodo, distorsionar su importancia reduciéndola a un coste más en el proyecto, y por otra parte sería muy dífícil alcanzar un consenso sobre la cuantificación de los costes estándar. Respecto a la citada afección sobre la salud, cabe señalar que en el año 2003 la Agencia Internacional para la Investigación sobre el Cáncer (IARC) declaró que el campo magnético de frecuencia extremadamente baja, como el que corresponde al de las líneas de alta tensión, es un posible cancerígeno para leucemia infantil, o categoría 2B, como se califica al café. Cabe la posibilidad de determinar un trazado desde Santa Llogaia hasta la frontera que discurra alejada de la totalidad de las localidades y urbanizaciones, manteniendo distancias superiores a los 500 metros, y alejarla de granjas, masías y demás viviendas aisladas, cumpliendo el principio de la prevención señalado, buscando zonas del menor valor natural posible, y alejadas de zonas habitadas."

Comment: This study supplies data and methods to study all quantitative aspects so that the real cost of an overhead line can be measured. The Spanish transmission monopoly pretends it does not know how to quantify these well-established costs, adding contemptuously that health impacts are like drinking coffee. This disgraceful statement shows how untrustworthy REE's entire behaviour has been raising doubts whether it has really been the Spanish and Catalan governments or rather the monopoly itself that has engaged in all the illegalities it now admits. This study gives references for the health effects of high voltage lines and how these can be incorporated into costs.

Question 22: Doesn't a sea cable favour the long term interconnection with Africa by avoiding constant and costly conflicts along the heavily populated Mediterranean coast?

CESI reply: "Cette solution n’aurait aucun sens pour raisons techniques, économiques et environnementales. Une liaison directe France-Afrique serait à l’état de l’art actuel impossible."

Comment: The same comment as in question 8: Sea cables are being increasingly laid all over the world and are cost effective as shown in this study. The French environment minister is also studying a sea cable solution. It is obviously absurd to lay one just for crossing the Pyrenees but given the stated European policy to connect with Africa a sea cable along the Spanish Mediterranean coastline makes economic, political and social sense. The state of the art is that sea cables are increasingly laid all over the world, especially in Europe, as the conclusion states in chapter 2 where sea cables are discussed: Sea cables are competitive, unlike the overblown estimates of RTE and CESI, and are a preferred option near the sea like this project, because of ease of planning, increased security, zero health and environmental impact. The same month Spanish transmission monopoly REE announced a 237 km sea cable link from the Peninsula to Majorca it denies a sea cable is a feasible alternative to the Sentmenat-Bescanó-Baixàs project.

Question 23: Isn't it in the European Union's interest to favour the new technology of undergrounding, whether on land or sea, rather than outdated and unwanted overhead lines?

CESI and European Commission Directorate-General for Energy and Transport replies: "Les liaisons terrestres en câble pour les lignes de transport THT sont utilisées seulement en cas exceptionnel. L’utilisation des câbles pour le niveau THT doit être analysé en chaque cas spécifique selon des critères économique (rapport coûts/bénéfices) en tenant compte les contraintes environnementales. Enfin, nous rappelons que l’utilisation de lignes de transport aériennes n’est pas quelque chose d’obsolète, mais en revanche l’augmentation souhaitable d’une grande quantité de production de sources renouvelables requiert un renforcement du réseau de transport (y compris les lignes transfrontalières) plus fort que dans le scénario de base."

Comment: HVT overhead lines are socially and politically obsolete. Since public hearings were established in France all sessions have been exclusively on HVT overhead lines. All new HVT overhead lines in Spain have raised opposition. Alternatives exist which are acceptable and cost comparable when all overhead costs are included. Europe should be promoting new technologies, not outdated systems.

Question 24: Undergrounding just one of three sections of the European Interconnection in Spain discriminates European citizens by treating them differently according to where they happen live along the same project. 

European Commission Directorate-General for Energy and Transport reply: "D'après l’Article 10 de la Décision CE/1364/2006, le rôle du coordonnateur de l’Union Européenne est de faciliter la mise en oeuvre de tronçons – d’un projet d'intérêt européen – qui rencontrent des difficultés ou des retards importants. En outre, dans le cadre du dernier sommet entre la France et l’Espagne 10/1/2008, dans une déclaration commune, MM. Zapatero et Sarkozy ont demandé à M. Monti de proposer une solution compatible avec les exigences des deux pays et respectueuse de l’environnement naturel et humain. Cette demande est en rapport avec le tronçon manquant entre la France et l'Espagne. Concernant les autres sections du même projet pour lesquelles la déclaration d’utilité publique est en cours ou déjà acquise ou la construction a déjà commencé (ex.: Sentmenat-Bescanó), le coordonnateur ne peut pas interférer avec les plans nationaux. Il reste, cependant, libre de commenter, dans son rapport annuel – si cela s’avérait nécessaire - les difficultés et obstacles qui peuvent affecter la mise en oeuvre de ces sections." 

Comment: The European Commission has arbitrarily cut back the European Coordinator's brief to Santa Llogaia-Baixàs. This is unacceptable in the face of the self confessed illegalities by REE. The two sections entirely in Spain discriminate against Catalans who are treated as second class citizens in Spain and Europe. The Sentmenat-Bescanó section is not yet built and the Bescanó-Santa Llogaia section has yet to pass the planning stage so it is extremely sad to see that the European Coordinator has been captured by monopoly interests to impose discrimination on European citizens.

5.3 Top Down Breaking of the Law

The official answers provided by all top down actors to the European Coordinator Mario Monti reveal shocking admissions of lies, irregularities and illegalities:

1) The Girona network has been kept substandard to enforce the interconnection.

2) Other viable alternatives have been ignored: renovating existing lines, full undergrounding, sea cables.

3) The new line has no arguments: the spurious use of wind farms, the phantom train, the surplus imports.

4) Costs have been biased in favour of an overhead line.

5) The Spanish transmission monopoly REE and the Spanish government have engaged in illegal acts.

6) There is European complicity in the discrimination of Catalans in Spain.

These irregularities and illegalities of the European Interconnection are discussed now in detail:

1) The Girona network has been kept substandard to enforce the Interconnection:

The Girona network has not been renovated although both transmission monopolies know it is substandard as they admit in their common response to Non à la THT:

"Spain does not have sufficient capacity to supply in conditions of peak consumption the demand of the Girona area and in addition Perpignan. Work will be carried out in 2009-2010 in the Spanish network to increase the capacity of the (existing) 400 kV Vic-Pierola line and underlying 225 kV network."

Why the Girona network has not been analysed first, as RTE did with Perpignan, which indeed might also show there is no need for the new line, provides contradictory answers by REE and CESI. REE seems to be arguing no renovation of overhead lines is possible because Girona has grown too much:

"Undertaking renovation is very difficult because since the lines were built much residential building has taken place…Anyway renovating these lines merely permits a limited increase in capacity. The work would be a stop gap."

Indeed REE washes its hands of the Girona network it administers and co-owns with distribution monopoly Endesa:

"The development of the distribution network is the responsibility of the local distribution stakeholders (Endesa in Catalonia)."

CESI on the other hand tries to extend the security argument of the new line to the Girona network without any intention of first analysing its weaknesses:

"Eventual weaknesses, if they exist, inside France or Spain should be analysed directly by the respective transmission operators...We are not concerned with the HVT distribution network in Girona or the Pyrenées Orientales. This analysis would require a different kind of study."

Efficiency in a world of rising energy costs and global warming are not European and even less Spanish monopoly concerns for stateless Catalonia. According to CESI Europe has done more than enough for "high efficiency and high RES penetration." Spanish transmission monopoly REE goes one step further arguing it is bad to plan for efficiency:

"One should not consider solely the lowest or most favourable growth in demand because if it does not occur for whatever reason there is the risk of not being able to supply adequately and with no time to respond to these events."

Overplanning on a grand scale is a curious response to gross inefficiency in Girona and Catalonia as a whole.

2) Other viable alternatives have been ignored:

a) Renovating existing lines: Alternatives have been ignored by the European Coordinator in favour of the new line. His consultant CESI had found for the Public Debate in France four viable alternatives renovating existing lines that provided the security required, the main argument for the new line:

-Renovate Hernani-Argi 400 kV in the Basque Pyrenees and Vic-Baixàs 400 kV in the Catalan Pyrenees.
-Double the lines in Hernani-Argi 400 kV in the Basque Pyrenees and Vic-Baixàs 400 kV in the Catalan Pyrenees.
-Upgrade to 400 kV the 225 kV line Biescas-Pragnères in the Aragonese Pyrenees.
-Upgrade to 400 kV the 225 kV line Biescas-Pragnères in the Aragonese Pyrenees and renovate existing 400 kV lines.

Despite promises to justify why these alternatives are no longer being considered, nothing has been released at the date of writing.

b) Full undergrounding: Both CESI and the European Commission argue that undergrounding is exceptional and must be shown to be profitable while overhead lines are not obsolete. It is a glaring contradiction that the European Coordinator now proposes burying the entire section crossing France after a public debate made clear local opposition. France has held three public debates since the procedure was established in the nineties and all three have been on overhead lines. When all costs are included undergrounding is economically comparable as CESI found in its latest report proposing undergrounding the French section:

	-half the operational costs.
-electrical losses twenty times less, 2% compared to 40% of the investment in an overhead line.
-up to twelve times lower magnetic fields.
-cable costs ten times higher.
-land costs lower.

CESI's conclusion is that when all costs are taken into account, not just the cable cost, undergrounding costs the same as an overhead line. Our own conclusion in chapter 2 is that the entire line, not just one section, can be undergrounded through a more rational route following the high speed train rather than the abrupt mountainous NIMBY route chosen, at one third more than the cost of an overhead line.

c) Sea cables: CESI argues that there is no technical, economic or environmental justification for a sea cable which is "in the state of art impossible." This study shows that just in Europe sea cables have been laid very recently improving the European state of art and by no means technically, economically or environmentally impossible:

	England-France
	Scotland-Ireland
	Estonia-Finland
	Norway-Holland

The average length of 24 projects budgeted, 408 kms, doubles the proposed European Interconnection France-Spain at a cable cost of 745,000 euros per km, ten times lower than CESI figures and close to their overhead line costs of 520,000 euros. Sea cables are a growing solution because of their low environmental impact, minimum planning delays, reduced transmission losses, zero health risks and increased security of supplies with no cuts from extreme weather. Of course a sea cable makes no sense just to jump the Pyrenees because of the high cost of the AC/DC converters at either end, but would be the best choice for the Europe-Africa link planned by the European Union of which the current European Interconnection is part. A longer link from Baixàs to Vandellós would be the equivalent to the current project by the Spanish transmission monopoly REE 237 km sea cable link from the Peninsula to Majorca for 2010. The Scottish proponents of sea cables, Highlands before Pylons, are not averse to undergrounding but consider sea cables the best long term solution.

No alternatives have been seriously studied by REE or Europe from renovating existing lines to sea cables but undergrounding has been taken up as a last minute option by the European Coordinator, discriminating Catalans in Spain as second class citizens of Europe.

3) The new line has no arguments: 

a) The spurious use of wind farms: Wind farms are the new security argument to justify the European Interconnection but the need is not proven:

-CESI admits that in future instability will be "diminished but not completely eliminated" which does not prove the need for a new line.

-CESI refers to unnamed studies to showcase wind farms require renovation of the transport network, but renovation does not automatically mean building new lines.

-REE admits all new wind generators fully comply with security concerns and most old installations have been renovated. Their justification for the new line is uncertainty on how many still remain to renovate: "It is an open question how many will remain permanently unadapted, estimated as at least 3,000 MW." Why cannot outdated wind farms renovate instead of building the new line? It makes no sense to develop a large and costly infrastructure rather than ensuring 100% compliance with simpler and cheaper technology for securisation.

b) The phantom train: The argument that the new line was needed for the high speed train has been dropped. In France RTE has already built a 225 kV alternative feed fully operational in 2008, much before the high speed train is ready. REE continues to insist on the argument despite the contradiction of its own 220 kV junction feed for the Barcelona high speed train already in service: 

"In the Barcelona area it is possible to feed the high speed train through 220 kV junctions because these junctions are well meshed and with sufficient short circuit capacity."

Why cannot REE do the same in Girona?

c) The surplus imports: REE provides a graph of electricity imports and exports 2003-2007 which show that:

	-Spain is a net exporter of electricity to Portugal, Morocco and Andorra.
	-Spain is a net importer of electricity from France.
	-Spain is a net exporter of electricity in its total exchanges with its four neighbours.

The figures show that Spain imports from France around 7.000 GWh a year while Spanish exports to France are less than 2,000 GWh a year. The reason for this permanent electricity trade deficit with France and Europe is due to the poor state of the Girona network as REE admits in internal documents released under the freedom of information provision of the Aarhus Convention: 

"In export scenarios (to France) high overloads are observed in the (Girona) transport network, even when fully available…The distribution network presents a high number of inadmissible overloads. However it is Endesa's responsibility as manager of the Girona distribution network to confirm these results and carry out the development of the distribution network."

There is no problem importing electricity from Europe, with a current surplus of 78% in electricity trade so that the competition priorities of Europe are already well met with the existing interconnections. The problem lies in Spanish exports to Europe which cannot be resolved until the substandard Girona network is renovated. Europe is not furthering competition rather covering up incompetence of the two Madrid oligopolies in Catalonia, REE and Endesa, by proceeding blindly with a new line without first ensuring the substandard Catalan networks are renovated for competition really to have an impact on monopolistic behaviour. Transmission monopoly REE is not only contemptuous of Catalans but also of all Europe when it refuses to provide up to date data REE admits it already holds on all interconnections. 
4) Costs have been biased in favour of an overhead line:

a) The lie health, property and the environment cannot be valued in overhead lines: CESI argues that overhead lines cannot be fully costed using the exact same words as REE who goes as usual one step further denying it is possible to factor in these costs at all:

"Evaluation methods do not exist nor is data available to value the environment, health and property for overhead and underground lines. Giving a monetary value to these aspects would first and foremost distort their importance to a mere added cost of the project and secondly a consensus would be difficult to find on the quantification of standard costs. Regarding the effect on health…as a possible carcinogen in child leukaemia, the 2B classification rates like coffee."

b) One million price-less trees: The forested mountainous NIMBY route selected has not avoided its main objective, the protest of the local population affected, but the vast cutting of prime growth trees are also a direct consequence of taking as the sole option this nature preserve route. Costs are not limited to expropriating the right of way but also of the one million trees permanently eliminated in an era of global warming and desertification in the Mediterranean where tree cover is essential for rain stimulation and erosion protection against the torrential character of storms in Catalonia. REE pretends to have limited deforestation mathematically to 43,400 m2 but the maths are invented. Based on the real numbers of the 558 properties affected almost 4 million m2 of land is taken over by the right of way of the European Interconnection in the first section between Sentmenat and Bescanó with 558,329 m2 trees cut. It is reasonable to predict that more than one million trees will have been cut over the entire overhead line in Spanish Catalonia. These trees are mature and hence valuable and a long term loss as REE admits in answering separately on forest fires:

"The presence of forest masses, practically all mature mounts in which the greater part have attained their maximum size."

The one million trees deforested are priceless and indeed price-less.

c) Forest arsonists: The Mediterranean lives in a cycle of droughts and wet periods. Catalonia has one of the highest forest cover in Europe. Some of these trees are in alpine areas down to the Montseny which the new line skirts past but the largest part of the forests are found in the Mediterranean climate area increasingly composed of fire inducing pines which spread by their fire inducing pine cones with their fire resistant pinion kernels which flourish after a fire.
As an independent report states a Mediterranean forest is fire propagating and difficult to control because of the dense undergrowth with this line having especially high risks:

	"El bosc i sotabosc mediterrani és en general bastant dens, fet que facilita una ràpida 	expansió del foc en cas d'incendi. Per altra banda la dificultat en apagar-lo, 	independent de les condicions metereològiques, resulta ser alta degut a la complicació 	que representa moure's entre una vegetació arbustiva densa. En el cas que ens ocupa 	en general al llarg del traçat el tipus de vegetació que hi trobem seria matoll jove i 	dens de més de 2 m d'alçada, amb propagació del foc per les capçades del matoll i 	càrrega de combustible entre 25 t i 35 t de matèria seca/Ha que s'ha valorat com risc 	elevat."

The French transmission monopoly RTE admits 5% of forest fires are caused by overhead lines. The Spanish transmission monopoly REE avoids the question but explains why overhead lines are arsonists, because all those high towers attract lightning. This lightning produces direct costs to electricity consumers who suffer the downed lines and the burnt out appliances but the whole of society, not just REE consumers suffer from forest fires:

1) Permanent clearings paid by REE consumers.

2) Permanent watch paid by REE consumers.

3) Forest guards paid by Catalan taxpayers.

4) Fire brigades paid by Catalan taxpayers.

5) Tree losses paid by forest owners.

6) Property losses paid by property owners.

	7) Wildlife losses paid by no one.

Spanish courts are quite clear that overhead lines are one of the main culprits in forest fires together with criminal arson.

d) Underground discrimination: The about turn from undergrounding a mere 5 kms to the new proposal to bury the entire section crossing France from Baixàs to Santa Llogaia multiplies to at least 62 kms and as much as 103 kms under ground, up to twenty times the initial proposal. Undergrounding 5 kms had increased the cost of the line by 63 million euros but five years later undergrounding an entire section is proven to be competitive. CESI now argues undergrounding has zero visual and sound impacts but "very important" overhead, can carry an overload of 200% but only 10% overhead, no need for access roads if along an existing road or rail line, half the operational costs, twenty times lower electricity losses costing 2% of investment compared to 40% overhead, magnetic fields up to twelve times lower and only the cable cost significantly higher, three times more. However the cable cost is only one of the costs of an overhead line as CESI now recognises. Full costing is required for a meaningful comparison. Moreover since undergrounding solely in France discriminates Catalans in Spain, a full undergrounding should be considered.

e) Magnetic lies: According to REE magnetic fields are much higher underground:

	"Una línea soterrada a 400 kV produce un campo magnético de algo más de 10 μT, 	con un máximo entorno a las 30 μT sobre los cables, siendo estos valores muy 	superiores a los que se miden debajo de una línea aérea. Las mediciones realizadas en 	líneas españolas de 400 kV proporcionan valores máximos de 20 μT para el campo 	magnético. En el caso de la presente línea serán 7,7 μT. A 30 metros de distancia 
	3 μT, siendo habitualmente inferior a 0,3 μT a partir de 100 m de distancia."

The measurements for the new line are new calculations by REE but the underground numbers contradict English independent scientific measurements by SAGE showing that underground cables have four times less impact and those of CESI, the consultant for the European Coordinator, of up to 12 times less magnetic radiation than an overhead line. Moreover the official Spanish government study on electromagnetic fields calls for the Precautionary Principle to be applied because of the cancer concerns denied by REE:

	"Un aumento del riesgo del 70%-100% en la categoría de sujetos con los más altos 	niveles de exposición que corresponde en el estudio de Alholm a niños expuestos a 	niveles medios superiores a 0,4 μT (microteslas) o superiores y en el estudio de 	Greenland a niveles de 0,3 μT o superiores. Estos datos, sin constituir prueba directa 	de una asociación entre exposición a campos electromagnéticos y cáncer, ha dado 	lugar a una sensibilización entre algunos grupos de ciudadanos que es forzoso tomar 	en consideración. Para ello deben articularse los sistemas que permitan a los 	representantes de los ciudadanos participar en las decisiones sobre determinados 	tramos de los trazados. Por un Principio de Precaución el Comité de Expertos 	recomienda regular la instalación de nuevas líneas de alta tensión con el fin de evitar 	percepciones de riesgo no justificadas y exposiciones innecesarias."

This same Precautionary Principle, ignored by REE, is demanded by the European Council.

5) The Spanish transmission monopoly REE and the Spanish government have engaged in illegal acts: 

REE admits illegal acts in going ahead with the Sentmenat-Bescanó section of the European Interconnection divided into three sections in Spain under orders from the Spanish and Catalan governments. IAEDEN and AMMAT have formally asked European Coordinator Mario Monti to provide the correspondence from the Spanish and Catalan governments ordering REE to act illegally. The REE confession: 

"Although originally the definition of the entire interconnection was Sentmenat-Bescanó-Baixàs, delays in this single infrastructure due to disagreements over the frontier crossover led to the petition by the central and regional governments (Generalitat de Catalunya) to go ahead separately with the sections Sentmenat-Bescanó, Bescanó-Santa Llogaia and Santa Llogaia-French frontier."

Illegal acts revealed according to Spanish law:

First illegal act by REE: A project which is part of a larger project must be viewed as part of the larger project.

Second illegal act by REE: The Environmental Impact Statement of the Sentmenat-Bescanó section submitted to the Catalan government as an "internal" line required a different procedure through the central government as part of an international interconnection.

Third illegal act by the Catalan government: The Generalitat in a written statement in 2006 to IAEDEN and AMMAT denied that the Sentmenat-Bescanó line had anything to do with the European interconnection: "This project is not transnational so that there is no communication with the French State in the administrative files."

Fourth illegal act by the Spanish government: In the 2007 authorisation the central government admitted the Sentmenat-Bescanó section was part of the European Interconnection: "An integral part of the interconnection with France in order to increase the capacity to exchange power with this country and to promote the connection of the Spanish 400 kV system to the European system of this tension."

Fifth illegal act by the Spanish government and REE: While international negotiations are in process the entire project must not go ahead: "The planned timeline will be suspended until negotiations in the transfrontier process conclude."

These illegal acts by REE and the Spanish government expose a web of lies and misbehaviour on knowledge of the European Interconnection, public consultation, use of Fascist methods of expropriation and contrary rulings of the Spanish courts:

1) The Spanish government admits the Sentmenat-Bescanó section is part of the European interconnection while allowing REE to lie: "Ser parte integrante de la interconexión con Francia a fin de incrementar la capacidad de intercambio de energía con este país y potenciar la conexión del sistema español a 400 kV con el sistema europeo a esta tensión." In the same 2007 order authorising the first section Sentmenat-Bescanó the Spanish government prints at least five times the REE lies answering allegations that this project is part of the European Interconnection: "La interconexión con Francia no es motivo de este proyecto."

2) The Spanish government lies about public consultation: Of 492 complaints listed individually by the Ministry of Industry in their authorisation order of 2007, 67% of the allegations they list in Table 5.2 in answer to the European Coordinator, REE has accepted 29. That is less than 6% of the complaints and less than 4% of the alleged public consultations in the table. Most have been rejected out of hand with the excuse by REE of increasing by more than 10% costs, not of the entire project but of the local allegation. This affects especially the numerous petitions of undergrounding.

3) The Spanish government permits REE to use Fascist laws of expropriation: The Spanish transmission monopoly exploits the Fascist "public service" provisions when electricity was a State monopoly to expropriate cheaply, avoiding paying market prices for a commercial new line by a private company. Moreover REE did not contact directly those expropriated who had to rely on official newspapers to find out about the project. In this way the number of complaints was kept artificially low but even these have not been answered, except in the 6% of cases REE accepted rerouting, arguing it does not have to give reasons for rejecting a complaint: "En este trámite no se prevé la notificación individual de afectados."

4) The Spanish government lets REE proceed with the Sentmenat-Bescanó section knowing Spanish courts reject partial projects: An entire project requires a more complex Environmental Impact Statement than a partial section. The main difference is that an entire project requires the study of alternatives which was not done with the Sentmenat-Bescanó section where the only "alternative" was REE adapting the project with the 6% of complaints it accepted. Spanish courts do not accept this salami tactic to impose an overhead line through unacceptable routes:

a) The Tribunal Superior de Justicia de Madrid has annulled the 2000 authorization for REE to build the overhead 440 kV line Soto-Penagos ordering the Spanish transmission monopoly to resubmit an Environmental Impact Statement for the entire route and restart from the beginning the authorisation procedure: "El proyecto se aprobó sin contar con una evaluación previa de Impacto Ambiental de todo el trazado, exigible en el momento que se otorgó la licencia. La resolución del Ministerio de Industria no se ajustaba a derecho. En 2002 las obras se paralizaron después que el Tribunal Supremo sentenciara que el Consejo de Ministros vulneró la legislación al autorizar los cambios introducidos por REE sobre el trazado original sin someterlos al preceptivo procedimiento de Evaluación de Impacto Ambiental."

b) The overhead line Sama-Velilla is currently also being considered by the Spanish courts where only seven sections went through an Environmental Impact Statement but not the entire line where the Soto-Penagos sentence will set a precedent:"Esta sentencia se une a las que declararon la nulidad de la línea Lada-Velilla, que ha exigido el inicio de una nueva tramitación. La nueva sentencia recoge la mejor doctrina tanto del Tribunal de Justicia de las Comunidades Europeas como del Tribunal Supremo sobre el Derecho Comunitario de Evaluación de Impacto Ambiental. La sentencia del Tribunal Supremo de Justicia clarifica el panorama de esta línea exigiendo que se presente un único proyecto y un estudio de impacto ambiental que englobe todo el trazado, impidiendo fragmentaciones de Evaluación de Impacto Ambiental que no tienen cabida en el Derecho Comunitario. Es de lamentar que REE no haya adoptado hace años la decisión de cumplir con el ordenamiento jurídico aplicable."

Which leads to the question of European complicity.

6) There is European complicity in the discrimination of Catalans in Spain: 

The European Union seems complicit in these illegal acts. CESI consultant has been forced to admit the first line of its 2008 report is false, that the European interconnection is not Bescanó-Baixàs, rather Sentmenat-Bescanó-Baixàs.

The Spanish government is using three Fascist laws from 1924, 1954 and 1966 during the two military dictatorships, ignoring its own democratic and European law, to push ahead with the European Interconnection as the Riudarenes substation project of 2008 shows. The front cover states clearly: Project Co-Financed by the European Union. The European Union is thus complicit with the use of Fascist laws to circumvent the Aarhus Convention and the democratic Rule of Law:

1) Environmental Impact Statements are avoided in 2008 by ignoring the 2006 laws on the Aarhus Convention: "De acuerdo con la Ley 6/2001 que modifica el decreto 1302/1986 de Impacto Medio Ambiental, las obras e instalaciones del presente proyecto no deberán someterse a una evaluación de impacto ambiental. Del mismo modo al nivel autonómico el Decreto 114/1988 no exige que este tipo de instalaciones sean sometidas al procedimiento de impacto ambiental."

2) A private company argues it is a "public service" to make use of three Fascist laws of 1924, 1954 and 1966 to expropriate land: "Dado el carácter de servicio público del suministro de electricidad declarado por el Decreto del 12 de abril de 1924 se justifica la existencia de una normativa especial legitimadora de la expropiación. Según el artículo 1 de la Ley de Expropiación Forzosa y Sanciones en Materia de Instalaciones Eléctricas (Ley 10/1966) se regirán por la presente ley y por el procedimiento creado en el artículo 52 de la Ley de Expropiación Forzosa del 16 de diciembre de 1954. En el procedimiento de urgencia basta la mera entrega o consignación de un importe denominado depósito previo, establecido unilateralmente por la Administración, para proceder inmediatamente a la ocupación de bien o derecho que se trate, postponiendo para otra etapa la determinación del Justo Precio."

3) Expropriation at extortionate prices which do not even reflect the current official values and are not paid on taking over the property, leaving for an unspecified date the settlement of a Just Price: Table 5.3 shows that the price for forest and uncultivated land is 4% of the best valued irrigation price which explains the preference for routing overhead lines through forests, since the cost of expropriation is practically free. The expropriation prices do not reflect current official values. The expropriation price in 2008 is based on the official rural land prices for 2005 increased by 10%. However the 2006 official prices have already been published and should have been used with an average price increase of 7.2%. Adding the 2007 price increases the current 2008 expropriation price should double this.

The European Coordinator has so far failed to answer the questions he himself posed in his preliminary report of December 2007 on the exact route, the need for the project, the lack of consultation in Spain, the alternatives renovating Vic-Baixàs and full undergrounding, and

Table 5.3 Expropriation Prices for the Riudarenes Substation in 2008

Expropriated Land	Euros/m2	% of Irrigation	

Forest and uncultivated land	
0.08	
4%	
Meadowland	0.67	37%	
Dry land cultivation	0.88	48%	
Irrigated land	1.83	100%	

Source: Elaborated from Labarta 2008.

compensation for local communities. If the European Coordinator cannot answer his own questions it may be because of Madrid diktat to Europe. This explains why his consultant CESI only uses REE data for Spain in contrast to the independent elaborations in the same consultant's reports for the French Public Debate. Indeed CESI admits lying in the first line of their current Spanish report excluding Sentmenat-Bescanó from the European Interconnection. No wonder the European Coordinator proposes fully undergrounding in France while ignoring the lies, irregularities and illegalities for the same line in Spain. The European Commission does not want to know what is going on in Spain and is prepared as a result to discriminate Catalans in Spain by only undergrounding the French section to just over the Pyrenees. An identical European project with identical protests is treated differently according to where European citizens happen to live. 

The final report by Mario Monti inevitably will have to inform on the entire line as he has promised in answer to AMMAT and IAEDEN's question. Can he cover the entire line while ignoring what is going on in Spain? Can the European Coordinator propose the discrimination of Catalans in Spain and indeed can the European Commission endorse overt discrimination of European citizens? The European Commission is trying to avoid answering on the misuse of the Rule of Law in Spain and European discrimination by arbitrarily cutting down the European Coordinator's role to "revision of sectors which have difficulties or important delays." In fact all three sectors have difficulties and important delays. The European Coordinator is ordered that "he cannot interfere with national plans." The French section has no national plan? The extensive exposure of lies, irregularities and illegalities in this chapter should make the European Commission reconsider whether upholding the Rule of Law and not discriminating European citizens are not priority European values rather than covering up the Spanish government's inexcusable behaviour and defending the monopoly profits of REE.
5.4 Conclusions on the Official Admissions of Lies, Irregularities and Illegalities 

The 62 mayors in AMMAT, IAEDEN and ecologists opposing the European Interconnection have been officially boycotted until recognised as Interested Persons according to the 2006 law adapting Spain to European law and the Aarhus Convention. The Aarhus Convention provisions are law in Spain and Europe, but both the Spanish transmission monopoly REE and the Spanish government as well as the European Union have engaged in this boycott:

1) Boycott by the Spanish transmission monopoly REE: The same year of the new law, 2006 REE president and former socialist agriculture minister Luis Atienza refused to provide data on the new line arguing it was private, personal and not subject to public information. As president of AMMAT, mayor Paulí Fernàndez, countered there is no relation between the Law on Intellectual Property of rights of a personal nature with data of an objective nature. Nor is the data a commercial property which does not have to be shared with a public administration such as a municipality, especially as REE claims electricity as a public service. 

2) Boycott by the Spanish government: The administration responsible for electricity also refused to supply information claiming it did not have access to electricity data, in direct contradiction with its entire process of authorisation of the European Interconnection.

3) Boycott by the European Union: The European Coordinator did not answer a letter of complaints on 5 December 2007 but AMMAT and IAEDEN were met for the first time by his secretary Alain Baron in Brussels on 26 February 2008. Mario Monti finally held his first official meeting with these Interested Persons at the end of April. The European Coordinator provided, to the questions they had raised, written answers by transmission monopolies REE and RTE, the Spanish Ministry of Industry, the European Commission Directorate-General for Energy and Transport and the European Coordinator's consultant CESI. 

These written statements on the European Interconnection provide a detailed official admission of lies, irregularities and illegalities:

The Spanish transmission monopoly REE admits that the European Interconnection is from Sentmenat to Baixàs, but delays and lack of agreement have made Spanish authorities pretend the two sections wholly inside Spain were not part of the European Project. The European Coordinator's consultants CESI also admit that the first line of their 2008 report is wrong and misleading, that is a lie, and should state that the true European Interconnection is Baixàs-Bescanó-Sentmenat. The European Commission also admits that the European Coordinator's brief is over the entire Sentmenat-Bescanó-Baixàs line and promises to report on its entirety, which so far has not happened. 

The Spanish government admits it has used an old pre-European law from 1988 to proceed with the Sentmenat-Bescanó section, avoiding the 2006 law which incorporates the European law on the Aarhus Convention. The Sentmenat-Bescanó section was approved by the Spanish government in 2007 one year after the 2006 law which should have applied. The Bescanó-Santa Llogaia section has yet to be published with no excuse to apply European and Spanish law on public hearings with Interested Persons. These public hearings have nothing to do with the allegations received by the ministry from those expropriated. Moreover neither the Spanish government nor REE have answered the vast majority of the 736 allegations made. AMMAT and IAEDEN have still to be heard by Spanish authorities despite being officially named Interested Persons according to the Aarhus Convention. 

Spanish law and Spanish courts do not accept that a single project be cut up into several sections in order to avoid complying with stated procedures. REE writes it has done this on orders from the Spanish government. The European Coordinator should ask for these written orders of illegality and act accordingly. The European Commission has arbitrarily cut back the European Coordinator's brief to Santa Llogaia-Baixàs. This is unacceptable in the face of the self confessed illegalities by REE. The two sections entirely in Spain discriminate against Catalans who are treated as second class citizens in Spain and Europe. The Sentmenat-Bescanó section is not yet built and the Bescanó-Santa Llogaia section has yet to pass the planning stage so it is extremely sad to see that the European Coordinator has been captured by monopoly interests to impose discrimination on European citizens.

The European Interconnection has unresolved questions on the Girona network, renovation alternatives, the high speed train, forest fires and deforestation, undergrounding, electro-magnetic fields, sea cables, no real data used in planning the new line and the need for full costing:
 
1) The deficient Girona network: Spain is a net importer of electricity from France and there is no problem importing with the present interconnections. The problem is the bad state of the Girona network which does not allow exports from Spain at the same level. REE admits that the Girona network is not adequately maintained by local electricity monopoly supplier Endesa. Why isn't the failure of Endesa to renovate its network studied as an alternative to a new high voltage line? Both transmission monopolies REE and RTE recognise that the present Girona network is substandard because there has been no renovation in existing 225/400 kV lines. Internal studies by REE released under the freedom of information provision of the Aarhus Convention show REE is not renovating in order to force the European Interconnection. How can Europe impose an interconnection without first analysing the situation of the electricity networks concerned?

2) Renovation alternatives: The report on the four alternatives renovating existing interconnections through the Pyrenees has not been released. Since the old security arguments do not hold, because of these four alternatives, a new security red herring are wind farms. However REE recognises that all new wind farms and most established ones have the correct technology to avoid short-circuits. The technology is cheap and easy to install and it makes no sense to develop large and costly infrastructure instead for securisation.

3) The high speed train: The French transmission monopoly RTE recognises it has renovated an existing 225 kV line for the high speed train. REE can do the same in Girona as it has already done in Barcelona. The Spanish transmission monopoly admits the high speed train runs perfectly well on a 220 kV junction in Barcelona but not in Girona because of the bad state of the network. Why isn't the Girona network renovated before a new line is built?

4) Forest fires and deforestation: RTE admits that high voltage lines provoke fires and REE that permanent clearings and a permanent watch are required and that towers act as lightning rods. All these costs can be quantified and cannot be simply ignored. Despite published figures of tree clearings REE now pretends deforestation will be less than 8% of their officially tabled total. This is prime woodland, as REE admits. The cost of deforestation in an era of global warming must also be considered. 

5) Undergrounding: The costs of new underground cables can be broadly comparable to overhead lines and are increasingly preferred. Undergrounding is less costly than predicted by RTE and CESI. The entire project can be laid underground at only one third more than a high end fully costed overhead line. CESI contradicts its earlier reports by now undergrounding the entire French section until just over the Pyrenees. Undergrounding is indeed an option with proper public consultation and transparent costing. 

	6) Electromagnetic fields: According to REE magnetic fields are much higher 	underground, a maximum of 30 μT compared to overhead lines of 20 μT and for the 	new line 7.7 μT. This contradicts English independent scientific measurements by 	SAGE of four times less impact by underground cables and those by CESI, the 	consultant for the European Coordinator, of up to 12 times less magnetic radiation 	than an overhead line. Moreover the official Spanish government study on 	electromagnetic fields calls for the same Precautionary Principle as in Europe because 	of cancer concerns denied by REE: "An increase in risk of 70%-100%. Without being 	direct proof of an association between exposure to electromagnetic fields and cancer, 	it has led to sensitization among some groups of citizens which must be taken into 	account. Therefore systems must be established to allow representatives of these 	citizens to participate in the decisions on certain sections of the routes. The Committee 	of Experts recommends the Precautionary Principle in installing new overhead lines to 	avoid the perception of unjustified risks and unnecessary expositions."  

7) Sea cables: Sea cables are being increasingly laid all over the world and are cost effective. The French environment minister is also studying a sea cable solution. It is obviously absurd to lay one just for crossing the Pyrenees but given the stated European policy to connect with Africa a sea cable along the Spanish Mediterranean coastline makes economic, political and social sense. The Spanish transmission monopoly REE is building a 237 km sea cable link from the Peninsula to Majorca showing a sea cable is a feasible alternative to the Sentmenat-Bescanó-Baixàs project. Sea cables are competitive and a preferred option near the sea like this project because of ease of planning, increased security, zero health and environmental impact.

8) No real data used in planning the new line: REE refuses to provide up to date statistics it admits to having. CESI ignores the economic cycle by using medium and long term predictions at least three years out of date. REE uses the same lags despite knowing the data up to 2008 and rejects any efficiency and demand reduction measures because of the "risk" not to plan for high growth. This high growth scenario contradicts global warming and high energy costs which should be the real priority of the European Commission. By not questioning the figures provided by the transmission monopolies on capacity, costs and congestion, how can the new line be credible? 

9) The need for full costing: The overhead line projected by RTE-REE does not include all health, property and environmental costs and should be budgeted at least at double the amount to compensate all affected parties and minimise impact. This study supplies data and methods so that the real cost of an overhead line can be measured. References are also given for the health effects of high voltage lines and how these can be incorporated into costs. The Spanish transmission monopoly pretends it does not know how to quantify these well-established costs, adding contemptuously that health impacts are like drinking coffee. This disgraceful statement shows how untrustworthy REE's entire behaviour has been raising doubts whether it has really been the Spanish and Catalan governments or rather the monopoly itself that has engaged in all the illegalities it now admits. 

A new line is no substitute to the renovation of the substandard network in Girona and a deficiently costed overhead line cannot be justified. One way congestion from Spain to France due to this substandard Girona network requiring permanent standby energy which could be otherwise exported is not a sufficient argument for building the new line. Questions raised and yet to be answered by the European Coordinator are the exact route of the line, the need for the project, consultation with opposition to the line in Spanish Catalonia, alternatives of reinforcing the existing Vic-Baixàs 400 kV line or undergrounding, and compensation of affected communities, especially with renewable energy. Since public hearings were established in France all sessions have been exclusively on overhead lines and all new overhead lines in Spain have raised opposition. Alternatives exist which are acceptable and cost comparable when all overhead costs are included. Europe should be promoting new technologies, not outdated systems. Overhead lines are socially and politically obsolete.

The official answers provided by all top down actors to the European Coordinator Mario Monti reveal shocking admissions of lies, irregularities and illegalities:

1) The Girona network has been kept substandard to enforce the interconnection.

2) Other viable alternatives have been ignored.

3) The new line has no arguments.

4) Costs have been biased in favour of an overhead line.

5) The Spanish transmission monopoly REE and the Spanish government have engaged in illegal acts.

6) There is European complicity in the discrimination of Catalans in Spain.

1) The Girona network has been kept substandard to enforce the interconnection: The Girona network has not been renovated although both transmission monopolies know it is substandard as they admit in their common response to Non à la THT: 

"Spain does not have sufficient capacity to supply in conditions of peak consumption the demand of the Girona area and in addition Perpignan. Work will be carried out in 2009-2010 in the Spanish network to increase the capacity of the (existing) 400 kV Vic-Pierola line and underlying 225 kV network."

If the Girona network had not been analysed first, as RTE did with Perpignan, this might have shown there was no need for the new line. REE seems to argue no renovation is possible because Girona has grown too much while washing its hands of a distribution network co-owned with local monopoly supplier Endesa: 

"Undertaking renovation is very difficult because since the lines were built much residential building has taken place. Anyway renovating these lines merely permits a limited increase in capacity. The work would be a stop gap. The development of the distribution network is the responsibility of the local distribution stakeholders (Endesa in Catalonia)." 

CESI on the other hand tries to extend the security argument of the new line to the Girona network without any intention of first analysing its weaknesses: 

"Eventual weaknesses, if they exist, inside France or Spain should be analysed directly by the respective transmission operators. We are not concerned with the high voltage line distribution network in Girona or the Pyrenées Orientales. This analysis would require a different kind of study."

Efficiency in a world of rising energy costs and global warming are not European and even less Spanish monopoly concerns. Spanish transmission monopoly REE argues it is bad to plan for efficiency: 

"One should not consider solely the lowest or most favourable growth in demand because if it does not occur for whatever reason there is the risk of not being able to supply adequately and with no time to respond to these events." 

Overplanning on a grand scale is a curious response to gross inefficiency in Girona and Catalonia as a whole.

2) Other viable alternatives have been ignored: 

a) Renovating existing lines: CESI had found for the Public Debate in France four viable alternatives renovating existing lines that provided the security required, the main argument for the new line:

-Renovate Hernani-Argi 400 kV in the Basque Pyrenees and Vic-Baixàs 400 kV in the Catalan Pyrenees.

-Double the lines in Hernani-Argi 400 kV in the Basque Pyrenees and Vic-Baixàs 400 kV in the Catalan Pyrenees.

-Upgrade to 400 kV the 225 kV line Biescas-Pragnères in the Aragonese Pyrenees.

-Upgrade to 400 kV the 225 kV line Biescas-Pragnères in the Aragonese Pyrenees and renovate existing 400 kV lines.

Despite promises to justify why these alternatives are no longer being considered, nothing has been released at the date of writing.

b) Full undergrounding: Both CESI and the European Commission argue that undergrounding is exceptional and must be shown to be profitable. It is a glaring contradiction that the European Coordinator now proposes burying the entire section crossing France after a public debate made clear local opposition. When all costs are included undergrounding is economically comparable as has been now found in proposing undergrounding the French section with half the operational costs, electrical losses twenty times less -2% compared to 40% of the investment in an overhead line-, up to twelve times lower magnetic fields, cable costs ten times higher and land costs lower.
When all costs are taken into account, not just the cable cost, undergrounding costs the same as an overhead line. The entire line, not just one section, should be undergrounded through a more rational route following the high speed train rather than the abrupt mountainous NIMBY route chosen, at one third more than the cost of an overhead line.

c) Sea cables: CESI argues that there is no technical, economic or environmental justification for a sea cable which is "in the state of art impossible." Just in Europe sea cables have been laid very recently improving the European state of art and by no means technically, economically or environmentally impossible:

England-France
	Scotland-Ireland
	Estonia-Finland
	Norway-Holland

The average length of 24 projects budgeted doubles the proposed European Interconnection France-Spain at a cable cost ten times lower than CESI figures and closer to their overhead line costs. Sea cables are a growing solution because of their low environmental impact, minimum planning delays, reduced transmission losses, zero health risks and increased security of supplies with no cuts from extreme weather. Of course a sea cable makes no sense just to jump the Pyrenees because of the high cost of the AC/DC converters at either end, but would be the best choice for the Europe-Africa link planned by the European Union of which the current European Interconnection is part. The Spanish transmission monopoly REE is building a 237 km sea cable link from the Peninsula to Majorca proving a sea cable of the same length can be an alternative to the Sentmenat-Bescanó-Baixàs project.

3) The new line has no arguments: 

a) The spurious use of wind farms: Wind farms are the new security argument to justify the European Interconnection but the need is not proven. CESI admits that in future instability will be "diminished but not completely eliminated" which does not prove the need for a new line. CESI refers to unnamed studies to showcase wind farms require renovation of the transport network, but renovation does not automatically mean building new lines. REE admits all new wind generators fully comply with security concerns and most old installations have been renovated. Their justification for the new line is uncertainty on how many still remain to renovate. Why cannot outdated wind farms renovate instead of building the new line? It makes no sense to develop a large and costly infrastructure rather than ensuring 100% compliance with simpler and cheaper technology for securisation.

b) The phantom train: The argument that the new line was needed for the high speed train has been dropped. RTE has already built a 225 kV alternative feed fully operational in 2008. REE continues to insist on the argument despite the contradiction of its own 220 kV junction feed for the Barcelona high speed train already in service: 

"In the Barcelona area it is possible to feed the high speed train through 220 kV junctions because these junctions are well meshed and with sufficient short circuit capacity."

Why cannot REE do the same in Girona?

c) The surplus imports: REE provides a graph of electricity imports and exports 2003-2007 which show that Spain is a net exporter of electricity to Portugal, Morocco and Andorra, a net importer of electricity from France, and a net exporter of electricity in its total exchanges with its four neighbours. Spain imports from France around 7.000 GWh a year while Spanish exports to France are less than 2,000 GWh a year. The reason for this permanent electricity trade deficit with France and Europe is due to the poor state of the Girona network as REE admits in internal documents released under the freedom of information provision of the Aarhus Convention:

"In export scenarios (to France) high overloads are observed in the (Girona) transport network, even when fully available. The distribution network presents a high number of inadmissible overloads. "

There is no problem importing electricity from Europe, with a current surplus of 78% in electricity trade so that the competition priorities of Europe are already well met with the existing interconnections. The problem lies in Spanish exports to Europe which cannot be resolved until the substandard Girona network is renovated. Europe is not furthering competition rather covering up incompetence of the two Madrid oligopolies in Catalonia, REE and Endesa, by proceeding blindly with a new line without first ensuring the substandard Catalan networks are renovated for competition really to have an impact on monopolistic behaviour. 

4) Costs have been biased in favour of an overhead line:

a) The lie health, property and the environment cannot be valued in overhead lines: CESI uses the exact same words as REE: 

"Evaluation methods do not exist nor is data available to value the environment, health and property for overhead and underground lines. Giving a monetary value to these aspects would first and foremost distort their importance to a mere added cost of the project and secondly a consensus would be difficult to find on the quantification of standard costs. Regarding the effect on health as a possible carcinogen in child leukaemia, the 2B classification rates like coffee."

According to REE magnetic fields are much higher underground, contradicting English independent scientific measurements and CESI, the consultant for the European Coordinator. Spanish government guidelines on electromagnetic fields call for the same Precautionary Principle as in Europe because of the cancer concerns denied by REE, with an increase in risk of 70%-100% in overhead lines.

b) One million price-less trees: Costs are not limited to expropriating the right of way but also of the one million trees permanently eliminated in an era of global warming and desertification in the Mediterranean where tree cover is essential for rain stimulation and erosion protection against the torrential character of storms in Catalonia. These trees are mature and hence valuable and a long term loss as REE admits in answering separately on forest fires: 

"The presence of forest masses, practically all mature mounts in which the greater part have attained their maximum size." 

The one million trees deforested are priceless and indeed price-less.

c) Forest arsonists: The Mediterranean lives in a cycle of droughts and wet periods. Catalonia has one of the highest forest cover in Europe. REE explains why overhead lines are arsonists, because all those high towers attract lightning. This lightning produces direct costs to electricity consumers who suffer the downed lines and the burnt out appliances but the whole of society, not just REE consumers suffer from forest fires:

1) Permanent clearings paid by REE consumers.

2) Permanent watch paid by REE consumers.

3) Forest guards paid by Catalan taxpayers.

4) Fire brigades paid by Catalan taxpayers.

5) Tree losses paid by forest owners.

6) Property losses paid by property owners.

	7) Wildlife losses paid by no one.

Spanish courts are quite clear that overhead lines are one of the main culprits in forest fires together with criminal arson.

c) Full undergrounding: The about turn from undergrounding a mere 5 kms to the new proposal to bury the entire section crossing France from Baixàs to Santa Llogaia multiplies to at least 62 kms and as much as 103 kms under ground, up to twenty times the initial proposal. Undergrounding 5 kms had increased the cost of the line by 63 million euros but five years later undergrounding an entire section is proven to be competitive. CESI now argues undergrounding has zero visual and sound impacts but "very important" overhead, can carry an overload of 200% but only 10% overhead, no need for access roads if along an existing road or rail line, half the operational costs, twenty times lower electricity losses costing 2% of investment compared to 40% overhead, magnetic fields up to twelve times lower and only the cable cost significantly higher, three times more. Full costing is required for a meaningful comparison. Since undergrounding solely in France discriminates Catalans in Spain, a full undergrounding should be considered.

5) The Spanish transmission monopoly REE and the Spanish government have engaged in illegal acts: IAEDEN and AMMAT have formally asked European Coordinator Mario Monti to provide the correspondence from the Spanish and Catalan governments ordering REE to act illegally. The REE confession: 

"Although originally the definition of the entire interconnection was Sentmenat-Bescanó-Baixàs, delays in this single infrastructure due to disagreements over the frontier crossover led to the petition by the central and regional governments (Generalitat de Catalunya) to go ahead separately with the sections Sentmenat-Bescanó, Bescanó-Santa Llogaia and Santa Llogaia-French frontier."

Illegal acts revealed according to Spanish law:

First illegal act by REE: A project which is part of a larger project must be viewed as part of the larger project.

Second illegal act by REE: The Environmental Impact Statement of the Sentmenat-Bescanó section submitted to the Catalan government as an "internal" line required a different procedure through the central government as part of an international interconnection.

Third illegal act by the Catalan government: The Generalitat in a written statement in 2006 to IAEDEN and AMMAT denied that the Sentmenat-Bescanó line had anything to do with the European interconnection: "This project is not transnational so that there is no communication with the French State in the administrative files."

Fourth illegal act by the Spanish government: In the 2007 authorisation the central government admitted the Sentmenat-Bescanó section was part of the European Interconnection: "An integral part of the interconnection with France in order to increase the capacity to exchange power with this country and to promote the connection of the Spanish 400 kV system to the European system of this tension."

Fifth illegal act by the Spanish government and REE: While international negotiations are in process the entire project must not go ahead: "The planned timeline will be suspended until negotiations in the transfrontier process conclude."

These illegal acts by REE and the Spanish government expose a web of lies and misbehaviour on knowledge of the European Interconnection, public consultation, use of Fascist methods of expropriation and contrary rulings of the Spanish courts:

a) The Spanish government admits the Sentmenat-Bescanó section is part of the European interconnection while allowing REE to lie: "It is an integral part of the Interconnection with France in order to increase the energy exchange capacity with that country and permit the connection of the Spanish 400 kV system with the European system in this tension." In the same 2007 order authorising the first section Sentmenat-Bescanó the Spanish government prints at least five times the REE lies answering allegations that this project is part of the European Interconnection: "The interconnection with France is not the motive for this project."

b) The Spanish government lies about public consultation: Of 492 complaints listed individually by the Ministry of Industry, 67% of the allegations they list in their answer to the European Coordinator, REE has accepted 29. That is less than 6% of the complaints and less than 4% of the alleged public consultations. 

c) The Spanish government permits REE to use Fascist laws of expropriation: The Spanish transmission monopoly exploits the Fascist "public service" provisions when electricity was a State monopoly to expropriate cheaply, avoiding paying market prices for a commercial new line by a private company. 

d) The Spanish government lets REE proceed with the Sentmenat-Bescanó section knowing Spanish courts reject partial projects: An entire project requires the study of alternatives which was not done with the Sentmenat-Bescanó section where the only "alternative" was REE adapting the project with the 6% of complaints it accepted. Spanish courts do not accept this salami tactic to impose an overhead line through unacceptable routes as the Tribunal Superior de Justicia in 2008 annulled the 2000 authorization for REE to build the overhead 440 kV line Soto-Penagos ordering the Spanish transmission monopoly to resubmit an Environmental Impact Statement for the entire route and restart from the beginning the authorisation procedure.

6) There is European complicity in the discrimination of Catalans in Spain: The European Union seems complicit in these illegal acts. The European Coordinator's consultant has admitted the first line of its 2008 report is false, that the European interconnection is not Bescanó-Baixàs, rather Sentmenat-Bescanó-Baixàs. 

The Spanish government is using three Fascist laws from 1924, 1954 and 1966, during the two military dictatorships, ignoring its own democratic and European law, to push ahead with the European Interconnection, as the Riudarenes substation project of 2008 shows. The front cover states clearly: Project Co-Financed by the European Union. The European Union is thus complicit with the use of Fascist laws to circumvent the Aarhus Convention and the democratic Rule of Law:

1) Environmental Impact Statements are avoided in 2008 by ignoring the 2006 laws on the Aarhus Convention: Using the 6/2001 law modifying Decree 1302/1986 on Environmental Impact Statements "the current project does not have to undergo an Impact Evaluation Statement." 

2) A private company exploits public service to use Fascist laws of 1924, 1954 and 1966 to expropriate: "Given the public service character of electricity supply declared in Decree 12/4/1924 the existence of a special procedure legitimising expropriation is legitimised. According to article 1 of the Law on Forcible Expropriation and Sanctions in the Matter of Electrical Installations (Law 10/1966) and article 52 of the Forcible Expropriation Law of 16/12/1954. In the emergency procedure it is sufficient to pay or deposit an amount known as down payment established unilaterally by the Administration to proceed immediately to occupy the good or right in question, postponing for a later period the determination of the Just Price."

3) Expropriation at extortionate prices: Forest and fallow land is 4% of the best valued irrigation price which explains the preference for routing overhead lines through forests, since expropriation is practically free. Prices do not reflect current values. The expropriation price in 2008 is based on the official rural land prices for 2005 increased by 10%. The 2006 prices should have been used with an increase of 7.2%. Adding the 2007 price increases the 2008 expropriation should double this.

The European Commission does not want to know what is going on in Spain and is prepared as a result to discriminate Catalans in Spain by only undergrounding the French section to just over the Pyrenees. An identical European project with identical protests is treated differently according to where European citizens happen to live. 

The final report by Mario Monti will inform on the entire line as promised in answer to AMMAT and IAEDEN. Can he propose the discrimination of Catalans in Spain and indeed can the European Commission endorse overt discrimination of European citizens? The European Commission is trying to avoid answering on the misuse of the Rule of Law in Spain and European discrimination by arbitrarily cutting down the European Coordinator's role to "revision of sectors which have difficulties or important delays." In fact all three sectors have difficulties and important delays. The European Coordinator is ordered that "he cannot interfere with national plans." The French section has no national plan? The extensive exposure of lies, irregularities and illegalities should make the European Commission reconsider whether upholding the Rule of Law and not discriminating European citizens are not priority European values, rather than covering up the Spanish government's inexcusable behaviour and defending the monopoly profits of REE.

Chapter 6: Corporatism and the Rule of Law

6.1 Democratisation of Public Projects

A public debate is a "process of concertation" says Laura Michel in her study of the new public debates in France, based on the Lot high voltage line which preceded the public debate on the French section of the European Interconnection analysed in chapter 2. Public planning was based on a corporatist top down decision: 

	"Le projet de ligne à THT initial avait été élaboré de bout en bout par les ingénieurs 	d'EDF en collaboration avec ceux du ministère de l'industrie. La genèse du projet est 	plus largement característique du mode de gestion des projects industriels et 	techniques dominant jusqu'à la fin des années 80. Les projets sont negociés entre 	ingénieurs, représentants des grands groupes industriels d'un côté, fontionnaires du 	ministère de l'industrie de l'autre sur un mode néo-corporatiste. On peut qualifier les 	réseaux de décision que forment ces représentants, de "communautés de politique 	publique" Les acteurs qui les composent partagent à la fois des intérets, des valeurs et 	des représentations communes. Ils forment ensemble una communauté très fermée. 	Les industriels occupent alors une place importante dans la régulation dominée par 	une logique technico-économique propre aux ingénieurs à la fois contrôlés et 	contrôleurs. Ceux-ci détiennet de sorte le monopole de l'expertise légitime fondé sur 	la connaissance scientifique et la croyance dans le progrés technique. C'est l'âge d'or 	des "techniciens." Mais le projec ainsi conçu, hors pris en compte de la réalité 	sociologique et politique locale, va immediatement soulever de fortes oppositions 	localment."

"Technicians" are no longer sacred with their bias for top down planning:

	"La controverse se présente comme une double remise en cause des asymétries 	instituées entre le profane et le professionnel. Dans le domaine technique, des non 	techniciens contestent le bien-fondé d'un projet élaborée par des techniciens 	"qualifiés." Dans le domaine politique, de simples citoyens et élus locaux contestent 	une décision technocratique. Face à la controverse, la réaction première classique de la 	part du porteur de projet est de réaffirmer la validité de la coupure entre profane et 	expert. Renvoyer les opposants dans la catégorie des ignorants, irrationnels et égoïstes 	-le syndrome NIMBY- est une enterprise de disqualification particulièrement prisée 	par les aménageurs. Face à la construction d'un mouvement qui rassemble à la fois des 	élus locaux et des groupes sociaux divers unis autour de la défense de leur territoire, la 	ligne à THT n'apparâit plus alors comme objet d'un simple conflit d'intérêt autour de 	l'usage du territoire mais devient un enjeu politique, celui de l'affirmation de la 	capacité des acteurs du territoire à définir eux-mêmes leurs besoins et leurs projets 	contre le pouvoir central et sa "technocratie."

This loss of faith in corporatism has opened the way to the "democratisation" of public projects:

	"Le debat local, organisant de manière explicite la concertation, est un des résultats de 	la multiplication de conflits sur l'ensemble du territoire français portant sur des projets 	variés. Ces controverses créent une pression sur les pouvoirs publics qui ont engagé à 	partir des années 80 una série de réformes visant à "democratiser" les procédures 	d'élaboration des differérents projets."

Public projects today must be decided from real alternatives based on objective criteria:

	"Le débat public a enregistré la reconnaissance de la contre-expertise et de solutions 	alternatives à celle proposée par RTE. Cette expertise introduit dans le débat l'idée 	d'une solution alternative consistant à renforcer les lignes existantes parallèlement à un 	plan de maîtrise de l'énergie. En déstabilisant l'argumentaire de RTE, en soulevant des 	points de discussion jusque-là occultés, elles ont contribué à accréditer le besoin d'une 	véritable contre-expertise independante. Les solutions alternatives proposées, 	techniquement validées par RTE, et reconnues comme socialment acceptables par 	l'ensemble des acteurs, ont dans ces conditions pu devenir au cours du débat les 	solutions de référence. Le débat public a en effet mis en évidence une certaine 	capacité des acteurs non spécialistes de l'industrie et des réseaux électriques à discuter 	et argumenter sur ce terrain technique."

The emergence of these independent experts provide for real alternatives by redefining environmental impacts and electrical "needs" so that public projects become "acceptable:"

	"L'approche traditionnelle de l'analyse multi-factorielle avec la quantification des 	contraintes environnementales, utilisée pour la définition d'un "fuseau de moindre 	impact" a été très largement contestée. La definition de l'impact environnemental basé 	sur l'abscence de contrainte environnementale majeure qui a fondé le choix a éte 	totalment retournée à l'occasion du débat public. Ainsi parmi les "atouts" du fuseau 	retenu, outre l'abscene de zones abritant des espèces protégées se trouve l'abscence de 	zone urbanisée. Pour reprendre le propos d'un technicien de RTE "si on devait choisir 	dans toute la France un endroit ou faire la ligne le tracé retenu serait idéal car ici il n'y 	a rien et c'est de plus en plus rare de trouver des endroits comme ça." C'est justement 	cet argument que le débat a invalidé. C'est parce que l'endroit a été préservé de 	l'urbanisation, c'est précisément parce qu'il n'y a "rien" et que c'est "rare" qu'il est 	exceptionnel et doit être préservé à ce titre. C'est ainsi la valeur du "paysage" qui est 	mise en avant et non un approche naturaliste de l'environnement. A côté de cette 	redéfinition de l'environnement que le débat a contribué a valider, ce dernier a 	également révelé l'émergence d'une nouvelle conception de "besoin." La définition du 	besoin par RTE était basée sur des projections à partir des courves de consommation 	d'électricité des périodes antérieures. Le débat a disqualifié metant en avant les 	composantes actuelles et futures du développement local et metant par conséquent en 	évidence les dimensions politiques, économiques et sociales de ce besoin qui n'avaient 	pas fait objet d'un évaluation par les porteurs du projet. Le débat public confirme la 	remise en cause du principe du monopole de l'expertise par une élite sectorielle et 	ouvre la voie à une diversification des expertises. Qu'est-ce que rendre ces décisions 	publiques ou des choix politico-techniques "acceptables"? L'acceptabilité renvoie tout 	à la fois à une évaluation technique (ou économique) en termes classiques d'optimum 	et, d'autre part, à une mesure de "tolérance sociale" en référence à une culture ou à des 	usages sociaux, accompagnée éventuellement d'un travail de discussion et/ou de 	conviction en direction d'un public elargi."

A new "technical democracy" has emerged where bottom down opinion must be taken into account and incorporated into the decision process by top down monopolies and their regulators:

	"On ne peut se limiter à une étude d'impact purement technico-scientifique 	compréhensible et maîtrisable par les seuls experts, et on doit mettre en place des 	mesures d'un "réception sociale" plus large, des innovations et des impacts attendus 	par les publics "concernées". C'est l'avènement d'un nouvelle "démocratie technique". 	Il s'agit en tout cas d'une forme originale d'évaluation ex ante basé sur des calculs d'un 	côté et de l'autre des recueils d'opinions individuelles ou collectives. Le genre 	participatif a maintenant acquis une forte légitimité tant intellectuelle que politique. 	Cette approche valorise en particulier l'émergence de médiateurs dans la discussion ou 	la négociation ainsi que le rôle de "néo-experts" issus des forces de contestation, des 	associations de défense, des groupes de citoyens ordinaries. L'analyse de 	"l'acceptabilité" tire tout son succès de ce qu'elle vise directement le compromis et la 	"conciliation." Le répertoire de l'acceptabilité a surtout pour originalité de rénuir 	enfin 	ensemble deux registres initialment antagoniques et de chercher à les combiner. Sa 	séduction vient de cette ambivalence, de cette capacité a établir l'interface entre deux 	mondes -technique et démocratique- de légitimation voire à les fusionner. Elle designe 	en effet un horizon politique de rechange, l'ambition de combiner de front 	l'optimisation technique et la prise en compte de l'opinion, l'opportunité d'une 	gouvernance moins autoritaire, devenant plus bottom up."

The Catalan administration, or at least those responsible for designing the electricity routes, are rethinking the top down approach because it does not guarantee the preservation of the environment and indeed technocratic planning ignores the democratic principles of openness and participation:

	"El reto consiste por lo tanto en disponer de conceptos y herramientas de ordenación 	del territorio que nos permitan hacer compatible el necesario desarrollo urbanístico y 	de infraestructuras que requiere el país con la preservación de los procesos ecológicos 	básicos y el mantenimiento de una aceptable calidad paisajística y ambiental. Lo que 	modestamente se pretende es contribuir a cambiar los enfoques en política de 	conservación y gestión del territorio introduciendo la idea de que se requiere no solo 	"proteger" espacios aislados sino preservar el territorio como sistema de una forma 	integral. Y esto quiere decir fundamentalmente que es necesario introducir el concepto 	de matriz territorial como una premisa básica en los procesos de planificación 	urbanística y territorial. La exigencia democrática de consenso y transparencia hace 	que las decisiones deben de explicarse y negociarse en base a criterios objetivos que 	faciliten hacer compatible el desarrollo socioeconómico del país con el 	mantenimiento de los sistemas naturales. La mera preservación de parques naturales 	no garantiza la funcionalidad del territorio para albergar especies y procesos 	ecológicos."

Top down planning in an international project with no public participation sank a major infrastructure project also with European subsidies. In this case a water transfer from the Rhone to Barcelona, overpriced and unpopular enough that the French government rejected the proposal of local French company BRL with surplus water from overplanning. There are parallels with the RTE/REE plan with France undergrounding the original overhead line thanks to the democratic consensus and openness of a public debate which led to the objective criteria missing in Spain. Why is undergrounding a democratic, but also a technically excellent option?

6.2 The New Economics of Undergrounding

The Catalan government, unlike the Spanish government has looked closely into undergrounding, pointing out that an undeground cable rapidly dimishes its magnetic field and has no electri field compared to an overhead line:

	"Un cable subterrani està més pròxim a terra que una línia aèria i per tant, per 	proximitat, el camp magnètic és superior tot i que amb la distància disminueix més 	ràpidament que en el cas d'una línia aèria. En una línia subterrània el camp elèctric 	queda apantallat i no s'emet a l'exterior. Per tant en aquest aspecte és més favorable 	que en una línia aèria."

The Generalitat has a policy of undergrounding urban aereas, where no new overhead lines are allowed and all other lines will be progressively cabled. Currently 95% of lines in urban areas are cabled undergorund. However for the whole of Catalonia it is only 28%, similar to France and higher than Spain with 20% only. Out of 97,300 kms of lines, 26,749 are underground in Catalonia:

	"La Generalitat de Catalunya sí que ha establert el criteri de no autoritzar noves línies 	elèctriques d'alta tensió en nuclis urbans i promou el soterrament progressiu de les 	línies d'alta tensió en sòl urbà. L'índex de soterrament és força elevat, al voltant del 	95% en els nuclis urbans."

In high voltage lines, the first undergroundings were a 220 kV line in Paris in 1935 and a 380 kV line in Vienna in 1942. In urban areas it makes sense to build a gallery to share with other users such as gas, water, fiber optics, etc, but in the great majority of cases for high tension lines it will a classic trench along a public right of way such as a road in 95% of cases. The surface occuped for a 400 kV line is less that 1.60 m. Offsetting the high cost of cabling is the fact that losses are two to three times lower, whereas overhead lines suffer losses frequently in excess of 10% of production. Iberdrola had a loss of 12% (6.6 TWh for 53.6 TWh charged) and Fecsa-Endesa in Catalonia of 13% (1,6 TWh for 11,9 TWh charged). Cables are flexible, so can avoid difficulties better than the linear overhead lines, an important cost saving. Also breakdonws are currently estimated at 0.03 per 100 kms and year or one incidence every 30 years. 

Gas Isolated Transmission Lines are an important technical breakthrough, requiring 5 times less right of way than an equivalent overhead line, admit surface cultivation and integrate into the countryside unlike other buried lines like gas pipes, no maintenance and an expected cable life of 100 years. Also zero eletromagnetic radiation and no danger from electrocution, and totally silent. Transmission monopolies however do not want to set a precedent in 400 kV as Daniel Depris explains:

	"Les companyies elèctriques no volen crear un precedent en el sector de les 	instal.lacions elèctriques d'alta tensió a 400 kV. El problema no és de caire tècnic. És 	de caire polític financer. Els enginyers elèctrics europeus no volen cedir davant les 	exigències dels defensors de la salut, de la seguretat i del medi ambient, al menys pel 	que fa a les grans xarxes de transport d'alta tensió. Han hagut de claudicar per a les 	xarxes de distribució i repartiment (63/90 kV a França). Comencen a perdre terreny 	quant a les xarxes regionals de transport. Per tant s'afferren desesperadamet a la seva 	postura pels 380/400 kV."

Another reason of the hostility of transmission monopolies to undergrounding are European Union subsidies to new high voltage overhead lines, 46 million euros betwen 1995 and 2001, plus favourable credit from the European Investment Bank, 240 million euros just in 2001, for priority projects like this European Interconnection. REE ha slareday received, until 2006 1,294,550 euros to study the European Interconnection and a credit from the European Investment Bank in 2008 of 75 million euros, presumably to finance a project whose route and technology is not yet decided in Europe but which REE has started with the complicity of Spanish and, it seems, European authorities.

The preliminary study of the MAT project by Daniel Depris leads to the conclusion that alternative technologies to an overhead line are technically, economically, environtmentally and politically much better for the citizens of Catalonia:

	"Recòrrer a tecnologies alternatives a l'aèria és perfectament possible, econòmicament 	rendible i pot satisfer les exigències dels ciutadans i dels seus representants pel que fa 	a la protecció del medi ambient, dels béns i de les persones."

The price of undergrounding has fallen dramatically by a multiple of five as table 6.1 shows from 1986 to 2000 for a 400 kV cable like the one for the European Interconnection. The price disadvantage with high voltage overhead cables by the new millenium was down from 1 to 10 to 1 to 4. Table 6.2 shows that in rural areas a 400 kV cable costs 2,250,000 €/km compared to 450,000 €/km for an overhead line. The overhead line however has triple the electricty losses, 1.8% of the original investment per year compared to 0.6% underground. This means that over a 40 year life an overhead line will have cost three quarters more than the original investment because of losses, while an underground cable less than a quarter. Once these lost costs are factored in, an underground cable both in urban and rural setting costs the same as an overhead line as shown in the two meeting points in table 6.3. The conclusion of long distance high voltage cable researcher Wolfgang Lares is that undergrounding is now competitive simply on costss, once electricity losses are counted and even before considering the other advantages of undergrounding. Moreover a mix of overhead and underground high voltage lines provides better security for the entire network.
Table 6.1 Fivefold Efficiency Gains in the Cost of Undergrounding

Source: Laures 2003.

Table 6.2 Cost Comparisons of a 400 kV Overhead Line and Underground Cable 

Costs	Unit	Overhead
Line	Underground
Cable	Ratio	
Construction
in rural area	
€/km	
450,000	
2,250,000	
1:5	
Losses per year	% of investment	1.8%	0.6%	3:1	
40 year losses	% of investment	72%	24%	3:1	

Source: Elaborated from Laures 2003.

Table 6.3 Identical Total Costs for a 400 kV Overhead Line and Underground Cable

Source: Laures 2003.

Other research with more detailed costing, including both electricty losses and maintenance, has overhead lines 30% cheaper as shown in table 6.4. However overhead line costs are kept artificially low by keeping power transport below half the thermal limit. Any greater use would double costs. The conclusion from this second study is that there are no unsurmountable technical and cost problems in undergrounding.

Table 6.4 Comparative Cost of Undergrounding a 380 kV Line

									€/km
Costs	Overhead
Line	Underground
Cable	
Construction	330,000	990,000	
Maintenance	378,000	215,000	
Electricity losses	540,000	432,000	
Total cost	1,248,000	1,637,000	

			Source: Brinkelmann 2004.

6.3 Conclusions on the Evaluation of the MAT Project

The Barcelona European Council meeting in March 2002 agreed to a level of electricity interconnections of at least 10%. Spain has an import capacity of 6% but increased interconnections with Portugal will double this to 11% so that Spain already fulfils the 10% European Union rule without the French interconnection. The current interconnections with France have an excess capacity of 60%, which will increase to over 80% infra-use with the new line since the main planned consumer, the high speed rail link is at least five years delayed with a seriously contested route through Barcelona. REE should have as a priority the renovation of its 42,000 kms of 220 and 400 kV lines, 99% overhead. An underground line Sentmenat–Bescanó–Baixàs would induce the overall technological modernisation of the fragile Spanish distribution system with Barcelona suffering a severe blackout in 2006, probably induced by the high speed train AVE trials. Barcelona is beyond the scope of the European Interconnection while there is a serious lack of investment in transmission system renovation by the transmission and distribution monopolies in Spanish Catalonia.

The Spanish transmission monopoly REE has started work on the Spanish sections before a decision has been taken by Europe on the entire project Sentmenat (ES) – Bescanó (ES) –Baixàs (FR). REE has not proven the need for the project and efficient non-transmission alternatives exist which should be taken into account before a new transmission line is built. According to the European Council, the Commission of the European Communities, Trans-European Networks, the European Coordinator Mario Monti and REE, the electricity project of European interest extends between Sentmenat–Bescanó–Baixàs. The Sentmenat-Bescanó section already under construction therefore is a full part of the European project. 

First conclusion: The European Union should not proceed with the European Priority Electricity Interconnection Project Sentmenat (ES) – Bescanó (ES) –Baixàs (FR) as presently planned in application of the Precautionary Principle.

Trade mouthpiece UCTE, of which both REE and French counterpart RTE are members, admit new transmission lines do not increase competition, the stated European objective, because local monopolies distort investments creating supply insecurity. UCTE stresses in bold type that long distance lines, such as this project, are not a solution, rather new generation. UCTE also underlines that all interests must be taken into account and a dialogue established. UCTE warns interconnections increase blackout risks. The right information does not exist for a correct decision and comparative statistics do not exist. 

Efficient non-transmission alternatives have not been taken into account according to the Commission of the European Communities, like renewable energy, while oligopolistic behaviour distorts prices and supply impeding efficient transmission investment. Green power takes far shorter to come on line, three times less than new transmission. American experience confirms that locally generated green electricity and greater efficiency, like reducing peak loads, eliminate the need for new lines, saving 50% of costs while this greater reliability diminishes the risk of blackouts, another European Union worry. Planning bias in favour of transmission lines is compounded by the lack of institutional interest in promoting efficiency and local generation. New transmission lines should be required to prove they cost less than efficiency measures and investment in local generation. 

The European Priority Electricity Interconnection Project Sentmenat-Bescanó-Baixàs has produced the greatest demonstration in the last hundred years in Perpignan with Catalan opposition south of the border also present. The presidents of France and Spain declared jointly in 2008 that this project would only go ahead in agreement with the local populations based on the guidelines of European Coordinator Mario Monti. They requested the transmission monopolies RTE and REE to provide technical solutions with greater transparency to give answers to the worries expressed by the local populations, prioritising a partial undergrounding of the line.

France, unlike Spain, conforms fully to European law and held public hearings on the project, giving voice to these local concerns but not producing the desired outcome of the top down approach since the official board found the new line was not justified because a political decision had been taken without any technical back-up; security was a false argument since RTE admits the REE network has ample security while the new line will remain permanently underutilised to as low as 30% of capacity; there are more efficient alternatives to the new line like renovating the existing Vic-Baixàs 400 kV interconnection, building new generation in Catalonia, undergrounding, the high speed train does not require the new line, and the local population opposes the negative socio-environmental, health and cumulative impact of large scale projects in a single corridor. The CNDP national debate commission found the hearings successful because they legitimised stakeholders empowering spokesmen for the local population and providing transmission companies with the information for a correct decision. The board at the public hearing recommended:

1) Existing corridors should be used, that is the Vic-Baixàs, Mid and Atlantic Pyrenees interconnections. The two transmission companies must present a project that looks at the whole Pyrenees. Security cannot be based on a single interconnection.

2) The impact on the countryside must be given a greater weight.

3) The new line is a consequence of the high speed train. The logic of grouping together both projects should be extended to its logical end by placing the interconnection parallel to the track, preferably underground.
Public Debate makes top down large projects possible by making the decision acceptable from the bottom up. Renovating lines do not generate opposition and should be the first choice instead of building new lines. All French public debates have been on overhead lines, showing it is a technology with no public acceptance. Renovating lines do not generate this opposition or undergrounding. RTE is willing to invest 50% more for an acceptable solution. If renovation is the choice the French transmission monopoly prefers restarting the mid-Pyrenees line abandoned in the nineties which cost RTE 100 million euros in compensation to the Spanish monopoly REE for breach of contract. 

The public debate in France asked the independent company CESI to evaluate 12 alternatives, without contrasting them with the existing project or considering the entire length. CESI was not asked to update two of the three existing interconnections or to value their present underutilisation so that the new line will only be used as low as 20% of capacity. Coordination of the different systems and lack of communication have also not been analysed. CESI points out existing lines provide sufficient guarantees for the high speed trains, despite their destabilising consumption. Updating existing Spanish lines is enough. 

Given all these profound limitations, the CESI alternatives are an interconnection route parallel to the high speed train, overhead or underground; renovate the existing Vic-Baixàs 400 kV line; sea-cable circling the Pyrenees; renovate the existing mid-Pyrenees or Atlantic lines. Undergrounding is an option limited to a symbolic 5 kms or 6% of the length considered or 3% of the entire European project. CESI costs cable and total investment for some options but in fact gives subjective choices based on length, expertise, nuisance and other values weighted in favour of an overhead option, not following the projected route, rather the more sensible parallel to the high speed track. The CESI results are partial, by not considering the entire project, and therefore misleading.

Second conclusion: A European decision based on the flawed CESI alternatives will lead to the wrong route, the wrong technical solution and the wrong costs for the European Priority Electricity Interconnection Project Sentmenat-Bescanó-Baixàs.

Undergrounding is being considered by the European Coordinator and by France, but not Spain. Undergrounding has major cost benefit advantages compared to an overhead line: Health hazards reduced to an area four times smaller, home and undeveloped land costs four times less, no loss of value of 15% for homes and 5% for large properties as an overhead line, zero visual impact, and green corridors increase environmental and property values. With the wider definition of health hazards of the California Approach the cost of an overhead line can multiply by one hundred. The independent public consultation board SAGE, with transmission and electricity company participation, concludes that in future no new overhead lines will be strung over high value land once all costs are factored in. REE, RTE and CESI understate costs of overhead lines by not considering all health, property and environmental costs. The opposite is the case with underground where costs are overstated and even more so for a sea cable, up to twelve times the average cost of 24 projects in the U.K.

Sea cables are an increasingly viable alternative compared to ground based options because of greatly reduced environmental impact, no planning delays, reduced transmission losses, no health risks, and increased security of supply with no cuts from extreme weather. Sea cables are being increasingly laid in the new millennium like the major plan to link Great Britain along the east coast. Spanish transmission monopoly REE announced in April 2008 a 237 km sea cable link from the Peninsula to Majorca proving that a sea cable is a feasible alternative to the Sentmenat-Bescanó-Baixàs project.

Third conclusion: The cost of new underground cables can be broadly comparable to overhead lines and are increasingly preferred. The European Interconection overhead line does not include all health, property and environmental costs and should be budgeted at least at double the amount to compensate all affected parties and minimise impact. Undergrounding is only one third more than a fully costed overhead line. Sea cables are competitive and could be a preferred option near the sea like this project.

The public debate in France has revealed there is major opposition among the population. The Spanish side of the European Interconnection has gone ahead without the public hearings held in France, but the public demonstrations and public concerns are identical as the biggest demonstration ever held in Girona shows. The absence of dialogue is an added setback which France avoided and as a consequence the top down approach has not been legitimised in Spain. Europe has promised to listen to these public concerns and European Coordinator Mario Monti wants to provide a satisfactory solution for all sides. Spain, unlike France, has a long tradition of antidemocratic and illiberal despotism. A democratic, free and progressive society needs a more participatory and open approach to public projects.

Mario Monti presented in March 2008 in Girona new proposals on the European line which the Spanish government grudgingly accepts, "enforced undergrounding" energy secretary Ignasi Nieto said. These new proposals by CESI contradict its previous studies. The French government is far from persuaded of the need for the project. The new report raises the spurious new argument of green energy peaks and troughs. After much hedging, CESI admits sufficient safeguards exist to avoid a surge or drop from wind farms and there is indeed no proof green energy requires extra security. CESI repeats the arguments of general security and integration but has dropped the high speed train proving that the line is not needed for the destabilizing train service. The new proposals give no quantitative numbers except those provided by the transmission monopolies, hardly an objective report. Incomplete qualitative comparisons are provided between an overhead and an underground line in which it is clear undergrounding is less invasive, with zero visual and sound impacts, smaller right of way, overload capacity twenty times greater and hence more secure, no access roads or permanent ground clearing and indeed does not provoke forest fires, a major problem in the Mediterranean completely silenced in the report. This subjective list is complemented by cost comparisons showing undergrounding has half the operational costs, electricity losses are 2% of investment compared to 40% overhead and magnetic fields up to twelve times smaller. Underground cable costs have been now reduced to as low as four times overhead lines, but when all other costs are included of land use and magnetic fields, undergrounding costs the same as an overhead line. To show how competitive undergrounding is REE has operational since 2004 an underground cable in its home town of Madrid.

Fourth conclusion: European discrimination of the Spanish section of the European interconnection is unacceptable. Undergrounding in France and Madrid is also valid in Spanish Catalonia, all equally European citizens in this European Priority Project.

European law has incorporated the principle of public participation which precludes discrimination in energy projects. The project must be socially cohesive and sustainable in the long run before any decision is taken and in agreement with the local population based on the principles of non-discrimination, free access to information, right of redress and the right of the European Union to enforce compliance of member nations of non-discrimination, free access to information, right of redress and subsidiarity European projects cannot be judged differently in different sections. The European Priority Project EL3 is the entire Sentmenat-Bescanó-Baixàs line and not partial 	sections of this route and apply the Precautionary Principle to all citizens without discrimination, in particular reference to electromagnetic fields, openly expressing risks as well as benefits. 

The Aarhus Convention of 1998 is the guiding principle with the three pillars according to the European Parliament and the European Commission of access to information, public participation in the decision and right of redress. Spanish law has incorporated this European law over the past ten years. The Spanish Administration recognises it must function under the Rule of Law with equal treatment of all citizens under a democratic Constitution. The Precautionary Principle has bene incorporated into Environmental Impact Statements and major changes like the new undergrounding require a new Environmental Impact Statement. Energy projects must present alternatives and economic and social effects must be analysed as well as environmental impacts. Trans-frontier projects cannot go ahead until all consultations have concluded. Interested parties have the right to be informed, to reasoned answers and to legal redress. Finally a project tied to a larger project must be viewed as a single project.

The REE strategy has been to bypass European and Spanish legislation fragmenting the European Project into sections, only one of which crosses the frontier, allowing the Spanish monopoly to go ahead with the first "internal" section without the required public consultation or a definite decision from Europe on route or technology. REE obtained environmental impact statements of the first section by presenting Sentmenat-Bescanó as a local feed to Girona. The choice of route is NIMBY avoiding densely populated areas at the sacrifice of woodland with total impacts acknowledged by the Spanish central government as severe but not critical with no viable alternatives. That there are no viable alternatives is patently untrue when the European Coordinator is considering a route parallel to the high speed line and a sea cable, plus the published evidence that renovating existing interconnections over the Pyrenees is sufficient. 

The "internal" line in Catalonia became an international connection once the Environmental Impact Statement had been approved bypassing the troublesome public debates of European and new Spanish law. In 2007 the central government took over supervision for this Sentmenat-Bescanó section without spelling out its European origin but finally admitting the Interconnection with France. The Spanish monopoly's bypass with the Sentmenat-Bescanó section lands exactly where it originally was as an integral part of the European Priority Electricity Interconnection Project Sentmenat-Bescanó-Baixàs.

Spanish Energy Director Ignasi Nieto won the Societat Catalana d'Economia Award 2004 (Josep C. Vergés was secretary of the jury) for his study of the Spanish electrical sector that criticised the opacity of the sector and the capture of the regulator by the transmission monopoly. REE hides its costs but so do the electricity companies which operate effectively as local monopolies. In the case of Catalonia, Endesa is the monopoly provider. Local distributors share in the ownership of the transmission network. This is a recipe for disaster as the Barcelona blackout of summer 2006 showed since neither REE nor Endesa accepted responsibility and the Government blamed both for the bad quality of the lines. This study by Nieto also stated that there were no problems with the existing interconnections with France. Spain has no problems opening up to competition despite limited interconnections. 

Generation is badly distributed, especially in Girona which imports 75% of its power. Transmission monopoly REE is aware that the Girona bottleneck is not in 400 kV lines but at lower levels. The threat of blackouts has nothing to do with the European Interconnection as REE president and former socialist agriculture minister Luis Atienza admits, adding that the high speed train is much more elitist, destructive and destabilising, but it is overhead lines which have the problem of social acceptability. In 2003 there was no talk by REE of a 400 kV European Interconnection Sentmenat-Baixàs via Bescanó or indeed of renovating the existing 400 kV interconnection Vic-Baixàs. The preferred route was through the Central Pyrenees which would provide sufficient guarantees for Girona. The real problem according to REE was that electricity could not be imported because of the poor state of the distribution network which needed urgent renovation. To be able to export instead of import electricity from France, it is essential to renovate the 220, 132 and 110 kV lines to prevent blackouts due to the bad state of the distribution network. This 2003 REE document released through the Aarhus Convention freedom of information act of 2006 clearly states that the best option is an interconnection through the Central Pyrenees and also that whatever the outcome of the international project renovating existing lines in Girona is essential because of the poor state of the local network. Three further REE documents updating the situation for the 2007 government order for urgent investment in the Girona network use the 2003 REE paper as background material, with the main objective now the Interconnection with France plus reinforcing the Girona network and stabilising the high speed train.

Fifth conclusion: The high speed train, yet to have a date of service, will be the sole user of the new 400 KV line, but provokes up to 28% of the instability in the Girona electricity supply despite consuming no more than 7% of the power in Girona. 

The new European Interconnection does not solve Girona's problems which are the bad quality of the current distribution network. Overloads will occur whatever happens with the European Project. REE exploits the delay in order not to do anything to improve the Girona network except stopgap patches. The impossible situation of REE having to undertake urgent measures, together with Endesa, which could delay indefinitely and no longer justify the European Interconnection has led to great disarray in the whole investment process, external and internal, for the Girona network. REE has gone ahead with the first section of the European Project without waiting for the European decision on the route and technology with the excuse it is exclusively internal to Girona. Quite false as the released REE documents prove which all are centred, for Girona, on the Interconnection with France. The legal slight of hand of an internal Girona connection later morphing into an external interconnection with France was quite deliberate. The oligopoly situation in Girona (and Catalonia) of investment in the network being the double responsibility of REE and Endesa has led to no responsibility at all. Endesa is not doing enough to renovate an outdated system and REE undertakes the minimum palliative measures to avoid a blackout. The market is non-competitive and it is impossible for new carriers, or even generators, to provide power given the bad state of the Girona network. Perhaps this is the real reason for the underinvestment, a very effective trade barrier to the entry of real competition.

Sixth conclusion: REE criticises local distribution monopoly Endesa for the inadmissible state of its network with inadmissible subtensions in six 110 kV and one 132 kV junctions, inadmissible loads in two 100 kV lines "which indicates the distribution network in Girona must be reinforced," and inadmissible overloads in 13 hotspots. 

REE has gone ahead with the Spanish sections of the European Project presenting them simply as an improvement for Girona, although mentioning France could not be entirely avoided given the existing interconnection Vic-Baixàs. The first page of the Supreme Court documents handed in by REE in the complaint by AMMAT and IAEDEN shows that the official permit demanded to the Catalan government by REE admitted that the first section Sentmenat-Bescanó had to do with France: "Increase the reliability of the Interconnection with France and increase the energy exchange capacity with this country." Despite this admission, which required an Environmental Impact Statement of the entire line submitted to the central government, the Catalan government accepted the project, although questioning why the new laws on the Aarhus Convention were not applied by the central government: "The Ministry of the Environment must rule whether the new laws now in the statute book (Law 9/2006 and Law 27/2006) should apply in this procedure."

REE has ignored the Catalan Government's recommendations of the alternatives of doubling Vic-Baixàs 400 kV or a new line following the high speed train after Bescanó. The Catalan government energy plan wants to reduce imports by finding the right balance between interconnections, building new generating power, renovating the network and applying the Precautionary Principle on electromagnetism from overhead lines. In fact imported electricity from interconnections is planned to remain stagnant because of new combined cycle power stations and wind farms: "In 2010 there will be a similar power import balance as in 1999 and a slight surplus of energy for export."

After the setback of the public debate in France which made RTE study alternatives to the 400 kV line, REE issued a paper on the current route that reveal four viable alternatives for all Girona needs and security. Three further alternatives are in central government plans:

Seven official alternatives by REE and the Spanish government not studied:

	1) Increase interconnection with the rest of Spain.
	2) New generation in Girona.
	3) Double the existing Vic-Baixàs 400 kV line.
	4) Recover the Central Pyrenees route.
	5) Upgrade the Andorra line to 220 kV.
	6) New 400 kV line through the Western Pyrenees. 
	7) Renovate the Girona network.

There are therefore seven viable alternatives according to REE and the Spanish government to the Sentmenat-Bescanó line, apart from technical alternatives which would of necessity require a different route with undergrounding or a sea cable. None of these nine alternatives has been considered by REE before going ahead with the line. Government energy planner CNE in its 2008 report goes so far as to conclude that current energy capacity is sufficient to cover all extreme cases in the most conservative estimates: "There are no indications observed of situations which could affect supplies in a scenario of extreme electricity demand under the most conservative hypotheses." Which makes it even more difficult to understand REE's rush to build the Spanish sections of the European Interconnection when there are nine other alternatives which have not been studied and sufficient capacity exists today for all security and demand concerns in Spain. 

REE admits the route chosen crosses protected nature preserves of the Sistema Transversal Català, but argues this is not significant despite the many access roads to the pylons and tree cutting of the right of way. These "residual" impacts, that is which remain permanently, "could be important" with "disappearance" of vegetation cover, the "punctual importance" of migratory birds, local population affected, "important" access road erosion and "notable" de-naturalisation of the environment. This line, which produces such severe impacts, crosses a crucial sedentary and migratory bird corridor.

Even local electricity distribution monopoly Fecsa-Endesa complains that the transmission monopoly REE fails to provide enough information to evaluate correctly the project: "We must insist on the need to provide more complete projects as we have said previously to be able to evaluate correctly the complete picture."

REE has fragmented the European Interconnection into seven projects:
 
	First REE Fragmentation: Sentmenat-Bescanó 400 kV Line
	Second REE Fragmentation: Riudarenes Feed
	Third REE Fragmentation: Riudarenes Substation
	Fourth REE Fragmentation: Bescanó-Santa Llogaia 400 kV Line
	Fifth REE Fragmentation: Ramis Substation
	Sixth REE Fragmentation: Santa Llogaia Substation
	Seventh REE Fragmentation: Santa Llogaia-French Frontier 400 kV Line

First REE Fragmentation: Sentmenat-Bescanó 400 kV Line: Misinformation starts with the title of the project with REE failing to fulfil Spanish technical norms on object and content. The title purports to be a feed for Girona but Girona requirements are shown to be only 22% and in future at most one third of the new line. Up to 78% of the new capacity installed is not explained by the project. The Spanish norm UNE 157001 states: "Every project must have a title that expresses in a clear and unequivocal way the product, building work, installation, service or software involved." The title of the REE project does not reflect faithfully the object and content since capacity planned is 1.943-2.265 Mva while energy requirements of the Girona area are maximum 500-750 Mva.

The REE title also misleads because a 400 kV line does not improve the distribution problems at medium and low voltage in Girona, or security and unnecessary to renovate existing lines. The only credible use for the Sentmenat-Bescanó line is the European Interconnection not discussed in the partial REE project and whose route and technology is not yet final. The section should not proceed ahead of the entire project. REE has not only ignored Europe and lied repeatedly about the project but also refused to talk to the local elected representatives who best know their territory. The gross behaviour of REE in go it alone planning is shown by the contemptuous treatment of the birthplace of the historical home of Catalonia's first president of modern times, Enric Prat de la Riba, where he was married.

The commercial forest owners of Consorci Forestal de Catalunya point out the new line does nothing to improve electricity service nor is it needed for the high speed train. France and also Spain use 220 kV lines as in the Seville and Barcelona tracks. Moreover access roads have not been studied, because REE admits it does not have the data but cynically states new access roads through mature forests are positive for the environment. Consorci Forestal de Catalunya also complain about the low level of compensations with private company REE expropriating land practically for free, just 0.5% of the investment are expropriations: "It is inadmissible that the line is done at the expense of imposing new rights of way and costs on the environment and the rural population without just compensation." Private properties are seriously affected, with one company accounting a loss in value of € 3.5 million or 60% of the original book value of € 6 million. 

Seventh conclusion: REE is getting land for free, paying just 0.5% of the investment in expropriations, a ridiculous figure of 230,000 euros, lower than engineering fees, out of a total budget of 40,285,000 euros. The loss for just one property is 15 times more than what REE is compensating 558 properties for the entire Sentmenat-Bescanó section, with an average compensation of 412 euros per property.

Environmentalists and mayors affected by the line have submitted official complaints to the Supreme Court, to the Council of Ministers and to the Catalan Ombudsman arguing the environmental impact has worsened as the project advances, the European Interconnection has not presented as a single project and if France backs down the line is useless, and lies on the extent of the project make finding the right alternatives impossible. In one of the rare answers to an affected party REE repeats the lie the project has nothing to do with the European Interconnection: "The current project does not contemplate as an objective the Interconnection with France." Strictly speaking true since the first section Sentmenat-Bescanó does not interconnect with France...The choice made is biased by data supplied by the transmission monopolies who referee their own match. 

Seven alternatives proposed by the affected parties not studied

	1 Undergrounding
	2 Security
	3 Infrastructure corridor
	4 Energy efficiency
	5 Generation closer to consumer
	6 Better management of the system
	7 Renovate the Girona network

Undergrounding: The Spanish transmission monopoly did reply to the Diputació de Girona representing all municipalities, rejecting undergrounding on environmental grounds (!).

Security: The Girona municipal environmental agency CILMA has six different scenarios renovating 25/110/1342/220 kV lines without a 400 kV line at all.

Infrastructure corridor: The route chosen by REE over mountainous terrain ignores that there is already a major infrastructure corridor from Barcelona to France that concentrates road, rail, water and electricity connections.

Energy efficiency: If infrastructure corridors are not the answer the alternative is to increase efficiency rather than provide new high power lines. 

Generation closer to consumers: Girona has a huge generation deficit and instead of importing 75% of its electricity, Girona could develop local generation capacity.

Better management of the system: The blackout scare in Girona used as an argument for the new line in the 2008 CESI report of the European Coordinator was due to mismanagement by a centralised system in Madrid far from the producing and consuming centres in Catalonia.

Renovate Girona network: The distribution network in Girona has not had significant investment in over 20 years, the real problem for which the new 400 kV is no alternative. 

REE has fragmented the European Interconnection into seven parts: four sections for the overhead line, including a small feed for the high speed train and three for the substations, all of which have their separate and supposedly independent Environmental Impact Statements. Environmentalists, mayors and Catalan government officials question this illegal sectioning of the European Interconnection. SEO/Birdlife points out the illegality of fragmenting a project like the European Interconnection, the mayor of Bescanó adds defencelessness and the impossibility of a public hearing and of real alternatives, and the Catalan government complains the Riudarenes feed is part of the European Interconnection whose need must first be proven for the high speed train; the high speed train and the European Interconnection require a single Environmental Impact Statement; the European Court does not accept fragmentation (Sentence C392/96); a fragmented project must incorporate all the project (Directive EC85/337); defencelessness and impossibility of a public hearing; absence of real alternatives; and finally European Interconnection has been hidden and the need not proven. REE is well aware it is acting illegally as the Riudarenes substation section of the European Interconnection shows. The Spanish transmission monopoly argues it voluntarily provides an unnecessary Environmental Impact Statement and moreover linked to a larger project as the environmentalists, the mayors and indeed Catalan government official argued all along: "This Environmental Impact Statement is presented to coincide with the feed line into and out of Riudarenes of the Sentmenat-Vic-Bescanó line, given the link between both projects in order that both can be evaluated together."

False and real alternatives by REE in the partial fragment of the Riudarenes feed

	First false alternative: Do nothing.
	Second false alternative: Undergrounding. 
	First real alternative: The airport route.
	Second real alternative: The airport detour. 
	Third real alternative: Population detour. 
	Fourth real alternative: The mixed detour.

Second REE Fragmentation: Riudarenes Feed: REE argues that the section feeding Riudarenes is for the high speed train exclusively. The first section Sentmenat-Bescanó studied no real alternatives, but by 2007 REE had at least follow the letter of the law and the Riudarenes 15 km feed does have alternatives, two false and four real:

	First false alternative: Do nothing: The Environmental Impact Statement requires 	to analyse whether doing nothing is not the best. REE writes a self serving essay, with 	no numbers arguing that although "clearly" it is best to do nothing, the high speed 	train has "no viable alternative."

	Second false alternative: Undergrounding: The Catalan government and the mayors 	had asked for this alternative in 2006. No surprise REE discovers undergrounding 	would be best on the plain than in the mountainous route. Obviously undergrounding 	is not an option for REE that goes so far as to write an undocumented annex against 	undergrounding ever contradicting its own practices. Thus REE discards the Girona 	airport route below by not considering the obvious solution of undergrounding as it 	has done in Madrid airport.
 
	First real alternative: The airport route: REE agreed with the Catalan government that 	the 400 kV line follow the high speed train in a ground inspection in 2004. This 	corridor REE admits is the best alternative but rejects it because of the Girona airport, 	although it admits the 110 kV and 132 kV lines will be undergrounded. Why not then 	the 400 kV line?

	Second real alternative: The airport detour: To avoid undergrounding REE is willing 	to double the length of the route causing major environmental impacts.
 
	Third real alternative: Population detour: Again a major impact on the environment.
 
	Fourth real alternative: The mixed detour: The chosen alternative is an intermediate 	solution avoiding the airport and the population at the expense of the environment and, 	at 19 kms almost equally long as the airport detour. This abrupt route has a high 	risk 	of forest fires REE admits: "The potential fire risk in the studied area is very high."

Third REE Fragmentation: Riudarenes Substation: The location has been moved arbitrarily 11 kms southwest from the original project of the European Interconnection. The technical reasons for the shift are not convincing with operational data ommitted for the new location of Riudarenes in a degraded situation and only considered for normal operations. Most likely it is the fear that the original placement in Maçanet de la Selva would make much more logical the use for the high speed train of the 220 kV network as in Barcelona, taking away the major justification for the 400 kV European Interconnection. As internal REE documents have revealed, Maçanet de la Selva lies in a major blackout risk area which would have to be upgraded and renovated if a substation were built there. 

Fourth REE Fragmentation: Bescanó-Santa Llogaia 400 kV Line: This third section of the European Interconnection, presented by REE in March 2008 hides the European nature of the project, arguing it connects Riudarenes and Santa Llogaia substations for the high speed train and also provides better service to Girona. Renovating existing lines is rejected for pedestrian reasons and in passing the European Interconnection mentioned as if it were a parallel event: "Alternative measures with less impact reinforcing the current network are discarded because these are often situated in the interior of towns. They would be insufficient...as has been shown in more recent studies associated with the behaviour of the Interconnection France-Spain." Having discarded without study the real alternative of renovating existing lines, the two alternatives presented are a route avoiding populations or a route following the road, rail and electricity corridor. Because officials keep demanding an underground solution, REE admits for the first time that undergrounding is possible: "Several officials have asked that the line follow an underground solution. If this were the case there would be certain parallel benefits, since the rights of way could be coupled together. "

Eighth conclusion: REE admits the infrastructure corridor could be a good parallel route for eventual undergrounding, the first time there is no frontal rejection of undergrounding by REE.

Fifth REE Fragmentation: Ramis Substation: REE is well aware of the illegality of presenting a single project in fragments and for the fifth fragmentation, the Ramis substation, for the first time volunteers an Environmental Impact Statement parallel to the Bescanó-Santa Llogaia line discussed above. However there is no mention of the European Interconnection both fragmentations belong to. This sudden change of heart by REE is the result of the new laws of the Aarhus Convention of 2006 which until now had been ignored by the Spanish transmission monopoly but in 2008 can no longer do so with this second section of the European Interconnection and attached substations: "Law 9/2006 introduces into Spanish Law the environmental statements of plans and programmes as a Precautionary instrument integrating environmental questions in decision making and incorporating into our national legislation Directive 2001/42/CE of the European Parliament...in which transparency and participation are guaranteed." Unfortunately, the REE project is still partial, not presented in its entirety from Sentmenat to Baixàs, or with sufficient transparency when the three new fragments of 2008 still pretend they have nothing to do with the larger picture, and participation still non-existent. So much for transparency and participation.

Sixth REE Fragmentation: Santa Llogaia Substation: REE does not admit the Santa Llogaia substation will connect to France, since this is where the French section from Baixàs must end, and no mention of the European Interconnection is made which would require a joint Environmental Impact Statement following REE's own argument in the previous fragment of the Ramis substation as part of the Bescanó-Ramis-Santa Llogaia line. Likewise the Santa Llogaia substation is part of the Bescanó-Santa Llogaia-Baixàs line. This line is not simply a feed as stated by REE to the substation, like is true for the Riudarenes case above, but part of the European Interconnection.

Seventh REE Fragmentation: Santa Llogaia-French Frontier 400 kV Line: There is no agreement on crossing the Pyrenees. The planners of Barcelona Regional provided three options admitting that the line has a strong opposition and that a decision based solely on environmental grounds is flawed, first and foremost because the line obviously has a major environmental impact which currently is not valued, and because electric, social and economic aspects are not taken into account. The criteria used in plotting by Barcelona Regional are 100 m minimum distance to isolated buildings, 500 m minimum distance to urban areas and variable width of the right of way 20-50 m. These are the only three real variables used to plot the three alternative routes over the Pyrenees. Barcelona Regional evaluated by giving an arbitrary five points in the four grades of colours for ten impacts. The route parallel to the high speed train is the most favourable.

Unresolved conflicts of the European Interconnection

1 Unresolved Environmental Impacts
2 Unresolved Efficiency and Renewable Energy
3 Unresolved Price Differentials
4 Unresolved Trade Barriers
5 Unresolved Transparency and Participation

The European Interconnection Sentmenat-Bescanó-Baixàs reveals unresolved conflicts which are common both to the go it alone do as you please REE first section as well as to the entire top down project:

Unresolved Environmental Impacts: The route crosses unique habitats protected by the European Union (Directive 79/409/CEE) as well as by the Catalan government with full responsibility on the Catalan environment (Law 22/2003) 

	-Severe impact on animal life: Directly affects the migration route of Central 	European birds to Africa. Nestlings affected of the hobby, honey buzzard, short-toed 	eagle, peregrine falcon and eagle owl. Camping area affected for gliders such as the 	Griffon vulture and booted eagle. Affects hunting grounds of the bat. The line 	crosses ponds with the best preserved populations of pond turtles. Affects a protected 	area for especially abundant snakes.

-Severe impact on plant life: The line crosses virgin forest with severe impacts from the towers, access roads and permanent clearings. Mediterranean trees affected are corks and oaks. Increased risk of forest fires. The line crosses ponds with protected fragile plants: pond orchids, meadow grass, fragile oats and grazing marshes.

-Severe impact on geological sites: Affects volcanic chimneys, lava flows a 	hydrothermal fountain and special rock formations.

-Severe impact on ponds: Several ponds affected.

-Severe impact on archaeological sites: Thirteen archaeological structures affected 	within 500 m of the line from the Palaeolithic, Ferro-Iberian and Roman periods. 

Unresolved Efficiency and Renewable Energy: The energy transport system in Catalonia is highly centralised, built around two arteries from the production centres of the three nuclear power stations in Southwest Catalonia and the hydroelectric dams in the Pyrenees of Northwest Catalonia to the consumption centres of Barcelona and Tarragona. There is no direct planning for efficiency, with the best prediction reducing electricity growth only 1% in total until 2015. However there are important indirect energy saving measures through the growth in renewable energies to reduce dependence on high cost fuel imports. This could increase efficiency by promoting a decentralised micro-net distribution system, but by favouring centralisation the top down European Interconnection contradicts this natural evolution reinforcing an outdated system which is no longer efficient and too costly in imports and with energy losses established at 8,5% of generated electricity. Efficiency concerns don't seem to matter in a monopolistic environment and in this sense decentralised renewable energy is not welcome either.

Unresolved Price Differentials: The European Interconnection will not increase trade from Europe because Spanish electricity prices are below the market average for EU 15. So long as Spanish prices remain competitively below European levels, there can be no increase in electricity imports from Europe except for spot purchases to cover peak demands and power incidences. The new European Interconnection will remain grossly underutilised. Spain is not an island as Europe portrays with 17 interconnections with France, Andorra, Portugal and Morocco. A trade deficit with France makes hard to see how imports can increase further given the current price differential in favour of Spain. These lower prices in Spain make wishful thinking the European top down approach that a new interconnection will increase trade from Europe, but has the added negative effect on prices that not all costs are incorporated, distorting planning by ignoring environmental costs and impacts on the countryside as the Spanish White Paper on electricity admits. 

Unresolved Trade Barriers: The new European Interconnection not only ignores that an increase in trade cannot take place from Europe to Spain so long as Spanish prices are significantly lower, but also that non-price trade barriers make an increase in trade impossible as the Spanish White Paper details with variable prices used in France and marginal prices in Spain, a first come first served policy without an auction, and transaction limits.

Unresolved Transparency and Participation: The Spanish White Paper on Electricity criticises transmission monopoly REE for the unresolved problem of participation and consensus which is essential to carry out planned investments without conflicts. Transparency is good administration and helps in a better distribution of production with new entrants. This monopolistic behaviour by REE, criticised extensively by the Spanish White Paper, should not be ratified by the European Union turning a blind eye to the fait accompli of the first section Sentmenat-Bescanó started without a global agreement. No surprise then that the White Paper identifies social opposition as the main obstacle to building new overhead lines. Unlike roads, which are socially accepted, locals cannot make a direct use of overhead lines, designed for long distance transport without any local benefit nor improvement in the quality of the local service. This official petition that overhead lines be properly costed for the local population and the environment has been totally ignored by the transmission monopoly REE. The White Paper makes more sense than the European and Spanish officials excusing the inexcusable behaviour of the Spanish transmission monopoly.

Ninth conclusion: The Spanish White Paper on Electricity proposes compensations should be part of the planning process so that local populations and the environment are adequately taken into account. 

The 62 mayors in AMMAT, IAEDEN and ecologists opposing the European Interconnection have been officially boycotted until recognised as Interested Persons according to the 2006 law adapting Spain to European law and the Aarhus Convention. The same year of the new law, 2006 REE president and former socialist agriculture minister Luis Atienza refused to provide data on the new line arguing it was private, personal and not subject to public information. The president of AMMAT, mayor Paulí Fernàndez, countered that there is no relation between the Law on Intellectual Property of rights of a personal nature with data of an objective nature. Nor is the data a commercial property which does not have to be shared with a public administration such as a municipality, especially as REE claims electricity as a public service. The administration responsible for electricity also refused to supply information claiming it did not have access to electricity data, in direct contradiction with its entire process of authorisation of the European Interconnection. The European Coordinator did not answer a letter of complaints on 5 December 2007 but AMMAT and IAEDEN were met for the first time by his secretary Alain Baron in Brussels on 26 February 2008. Mario Monti finally held his first official meeting with these Interested Persons at the end of April. The European Coordinator provided, to the questions they had raised, written answers by transmission monopolies REE and RTE, the Spanish Ministry of Industry, the European Commission Directorate-General for Energy and Transport and the European Coordinator's consultant CESI. These written statements on the European Interconnection provide a detailed official admission of lies, irregularities and illegalities.

Admission of lies, irregularities and illegalities by REE and Spain

The Spanish transmission monopoly REE admits that the European Interconnection is from Sentmenat to Baixàs, but delays and lack of agreement have made Spanish authorities pretend the sections inside Spain were not part of the European Project. 

The European Coordinator's consultants CESI admit that the first line of their 2008 report is wrong and misleading, that is a lie, and should state that the true European Interconnection is Baixàs-Bescanó-Sentmenat. The European Commission admits that the European Coordinator's brief is over the entire Sentmenat-Bescanó-Baixàs line and promises to report on its entirety, which so far has not happened. The Spanish government admits it has used an old pre-European law from 1988 to proceed with the Sentmenat-Bescanó section, avoiding the 2006 law which incorporates the European law on the Aarhus Convention. The Sentmenat-Bescanó section was approved by the Spanish government in 2007 one year after the 2006 law which should have applied. The Bescanó-Santa Llogaia section has yet to be published with no excuse to apply European and Spanish law on public hearings with Interested Persons. These public hearings have nothing to do with the allegations received by the ministry from those expropriated. Moreover neither the Spanish government nor REE have answered the vast majority of the 736 allegations made. AMMAT and IAEDEN have still to be heard by Spanish authorities despite being officially named Interested Persons according to the Aarhus Convention. 

Spanish law and Spanish courts do not accept that a single project be cut up into several sections in order to avoid complying with stated procedures. REE writes it has done this on orders from the Spanish government. The European Coordinator should ask for these written orders of illegality and act accordingly. The European Commission has arbitrarily cut back the European Coordinator's brief to Santa Llogaia-Baixàs. The two sections entirely in Spain discriminate against Catalans who are treated as second class citizens in Spain and Europe. The Sentmenat-Bescanó section is not yet built and the Bescanó-Santa Llogaia section has yet to pass the planning stage so it is extremely sad to see that the European Coordinator has been captured by monopoly interests to impose discrimination on European citizens.

Unresolved planning of the European Interconnection

1. The deficient Girona network
2. Renovation alternatives
3. The high speed train
4. Forest fires and deforestation
5. Undergrounding
6. Electro-magnetic fields
7. Sea cables
8 No real data used in planning the new line
9. Need for full costing

The deficient Girona network: Spain is a net importer of electricity from France and there is no problem importing with the present interconnections. The problem is the bad state of the Girona network which does not allow exports from Spain at the same level. REE admits that the Girona network is not adequately maintained by local electricity monopoly supplier Endesa. Why isn't the failure of Endesa to renovate its network studied as an alternative to a new high voltage line? Both transmission monopolies REE and RTE recognise that the present Girona network is substandard because there has been no renovation in existing 225/400 kV lines. Internal studies by REE released under the freedom of information provision of the Aarhus Convention show REE is not renovating in order to force the European Interconnection. How can Europe impose an interconnection without first analysing the situation of the electricity networks concerned?

Renovation alternatives: The report on the four alternatives renovating existing interconnections through the Pyrenees has not been released. Since the old security arguments do not hold, because of these four alternatives, a new security red herring are wind farms. However REE recognises that all new wind farms and most established ones have the correct technology to avoid short-circuits. The technology is cheap and easy to install and it makes no sense to develop large and costly infrastructure instead for securisation.

The high speed train: The French transmission monopoly RTE recognises it has renovated an existing 225 kV line for the high speed train. REE can do the same in Girona as it has already done in Barcelona. The Spanish transmission monopoly admits the high speed train runs perfectly well on a 220 kV junction in Barcelona but not in Girona because of the bad state of the network. Why isn't the Girona network renovated before a new line is built?

Forest fires and deforestation: RTE admits that high voltage lines provoke fires and REE that permanent clearings and a permanent watch are required and that towers act as lightning rods. All these costs can be quantified and cannot be simply ignored. Despite published figures of tree clearings REE now pretends deforestation will be less than 8% of their officially tabled total. This is prime woodland, as REE admits. The cost of deforestation in an era of global warming must also be considered. 

Undergrounding: The costs of new underground cables can be broadly comparable to overhead lines and are increasingly preferred. Undergrounding is less costly than predicted by RTE and CESI. The entire project can be laid underground at only one third more than a high end fully costed overhead line. CESI contradicts its earlier reports by now undergrounding the entire French section until just over the Pyrenees. Undergrounding is indeed an option with proper public consultation and transparent costing. 
Electromagnetic fields: According to REE magnetic fields are much higher underground, a maximum of 30 μT compared to overhead lines of 20 μT and for the new line 7.7 μT. This contradicts English independent scientific measurements by SAGE of four times less impact by underground cables and those by CESI, the consultant for the European Coordinator, of up to 12 times less magnetic radiation than an overhead line. Moreover the official Spanish government study on 	electromagnetic fields calls for the same Precautionary Principle as in Europe because of cancer concerns denied by REE: "An increase in risk of 70%-100%. Without being direct proof of an association between exposure to electromagnetic fields and cancer, it has led to sensitization among some groups of citizens which must be taken into account. Therefore systems must be established to allow representatives of these citizens to participate in the decisions on certain sections of the routes. The Committee of Experts recommends the Precautionary Principle in installing new overhead lines to avoid the perception of unjustified risks and unnecessary expositions."  

Sea cables: Sea cables are being increasingly laid all over the world and are cost effective. The French environment minister is also studying a sea cable solution. It is obviously absurd to lay one just for crossing the Pyrenees but given the stated European policy to connect with Africa a sea cable along the Spanish Mediterranean coastline makes economic, political and social sense. The Spanish transmission monopoly REE is building a 237 km sea cable link from the Peninsula to Majorca showing a sea cable is a feasible alternative to the Sentmenat-Bescanó-Baixàs project. Sea cables are competitive and a preferred option near the sea like this project because of ease of planning, increased security, and zero health and environmental impacts.

No real data used in planning the new line: REE refuses to provide up to date statistics it admits to having. CESI ignores the economic cycle by using medium and long term predictions at least three years out of date. REE uses the same lags despite knowing the data up to 2008 and rejects any efficiency and demand reduction measures because of the "risk" not to plan for high growth. This high growth scenario contradicts global warming and high energy costs which should be the real priority of the European Commission. By not questioning the figures provided by the transmission monopolies on capacity, costs and congestion, how can the new line be credible? 

The need for full costing: The overhead line projected by RTE-REE does not include all health, property and environmental costs and should be budgeted at least at double the amount to compensate all affected parties and minimise impact. The Spanish transmission monopoly pretends it does not know how to quantify these well-established costs, adding contemptuously that health impacts are like drinking coffee. This disgraceful statement shows how untrustworthy REE's entire behaviour has been raising doubts whether it has really been the Spanish and Catalan governments or rather the monopoly itself that has engaged in all the illegalities it now admits. 

A new line is no substitute to the renovation of the substandard network in Girona and a deficiently costed overhead line cannot be justified. Since public hearings were established in France all sessions have been exclusively on overhead lines and all new overhead lines in Spain have raised opposition. Alternatives exist which are acceptable and cost comparable when all overhead costs are included. 

Tenth conclusion: Europe should be promoting new technologies, not outdated systems. Overhead lines are socially and politically obsolete.
The official answers provided by all top down actors to the European Coordinator Mario Monti reveal shocking admissions of lies, irregularities and illegalities:

Official admission of lies, irregularities and illegalities

1 The Girona network has been kept substandard to enforce the interconnection.
2 Other viable alternatives have been ignored.
3 The new line has no arguments.
4 Costs have been biased in favour of an overhead line.
5 The Spanish transmission monopoly REE and the Spanish government have engaged in illegal acts.
6 There is European complicity in the discrimination of Catalans in Spain.

The Girona network has not been renovated although both transmission monopolies know it is substandard as they admit in their common response to Non à la THT: "Work will be carried out in 2009-2010 in the Spanish network to increase the capacity of the (existing) 400 kV Vic-Pierola line and underlying 225 kV network." REE seems to argue no renovation is possible because Girona has grown too much while washing its hands of a distribution network co-owned with local monopoly supplier Endesa: "Undertaking renovation is very difficult because since the lines were built much residential building has taken place. Anyway renovating these lines merely permits a limited increase in capacity. The work would be a stop gap. The development of the distribution network is the responsibility of the local distribution stakeholders (Endesa in Catalonia)." CESI on the other hand tries to extend the security argument of the new line to the Girona network without any intention of first analysing its weaknesses: "Eventual weaknesses, if they exist, inside France or Spain should be analysed directly by the respective transmission operators. We are not concerned with the high voltage line distribution network in Girona or the Pyrenées Orientales. This analysis would require a different kind of study." Efficiency, in a world of rising energy costs and global warming, are not European and even less Spanish monopoly concerns. Spanish transmission monopoly REE even argues it is bad to plan for efficiency: "One should not consider solely the lowest or most favourable growth in demand because if it does not occur for whatever reason there is the risk of not being able to supply adequately and with no time to respond to these events." Overplanning on a grand scale is a curious response to gross inefficiency in Girona and Catalonia as a whole.

Viable alternatives ignored 

1 Renovate existing lines across the Pyrenees
2 Full undergrounding
3 A sea cable along the entire Catalan coast

CESI had found for the Public Debate in France four viable alternatives renovating existing lines that provided the security required, the main argument for the new line. Despite promises to justify why these alternatives are no longer being considered, nothing has been released at the date of writing.

Renovate existing lines

1 Renovate Hernani-Argi 400 kV in the Basque Pyrenees and Vic-Baixàs 400 kV.
2 Double the Hernani-Argi 400 kV in the Basque Pyrenees and Vic-Baixàs 400 kV lines.
3 Upgrade to 400 kV the 225 kV line Biescas-Pragnères in the Aragonese Pyrenees.
4 Upgrade to 400 kV the 225 kV line Biescas-Pragnères in the Aragonese Pyrenees and 	renovate existing 400 kV lines.

Both CESI and the European Commission argue that undergrounding is exceptional and must be shown to be profitable. In a glaring contradiction the European Coordinator now proposes burying the entire section crossing France after the Public Debate made clear local opposition. When all costs are included undergrounding is economically comparable as has been now found in proposing undergrounding the French section, with half the operational costs, electrical losses twenty times less (2% compared to 40% of investment in an overhead line), up to twelve times lower magnetic fields, cable costs ten times higher and land costs lower.

Eleventh conclusion: When all costs are taken into account, not just the cable cost, undergrounding costs the same as an overhead line. The entire line, not just one section, should be undergrounded through a more rational route following the high speed train rather than the abrupt mountainous NIMBY route chosen, at one third more than the cost of an overhead line.

CESI argues that there is no technical, economic or environmental justification for a sea cable which is "in the state of art impossible." Europe has new sea cables, improving the European state of art and by no means technically, economically or environmentally impossible, for England-France, Scotland-Ireland, Estonia-Finland and Norway-Holland. Sea cables are a growing solution because of their low environmental impact, minimum planning delays, reduced transmission losses, zero health risks and increased security of supplies with no cuts from extreme weather. Of course a sea cable makes no sense just to jump the Pyrenees because of the high cost of the AC/DC converters at either end, but would be the best choice for the Europe-Africa link planned by the European Union of which the current European Interconnection is part. The Spanish transmission monopoly REE is building a 237 km sea cable link from the Peninsula to Majorca proving a sea cable of the same length can be an alternative to the Sentmenat-Bescanó-Baixàs project.

The new line has no arguments 

1 Spurious use of wind farms
2 The phantom train
3 Surplus imports

Spurious use of wind farms: Wind farms are the new security argument to justify the European Interconnection but the need is not proven. CESI admits that in future instability will be "diminished but not completely eliminated" which does not prove the need for a new line. CESI refers to unnamed studies to showcase wind farms require renovation of the transport network, but renovation does not automatically mean building new lines. REE admits all new wind generators fully comply with security concerns and most old installations have been renovated. Their justification for the new line is uncertainty on how many still remain to renovate. Why cannot outdated wind farms renovate instead of building the new line? It makes no sense to develop a large and costly infrastructure rather than ensuring 100% compliance with simpler and cheaper technology for securisation.

The phantom train: The argument that the new line was needed for the high speed train has been dropped. RTE has already built a 225 kV alternative feed fully operational in 2008. REE continues to insist despite the contradiction of its own 220 kV junction feed for the Barcelona high speed train already in service. Why cannot REE do the same in Girona?

Surplus imports: Spain is a net exporter of electricity to Portugal, Morocco and Andorra, a net importer of electricity from France, and a net exporter of electricity in its total exchanges with its four neighbours. Spain imports from France around 7.000 GWh a year while Spanish exports to France are less than 2,000 GWh a year. The reason for this permanent electricity trade deficit with France and Europe is due to the poor state of the Girona network, as REE admits in internal documents released under the freedom of information provision of the Aarhus Convention: "In export scenarios (to France) high overloads are observed in the (Girona) transport network, even when fully available." There is no problem importing electricity from Europe, with a current surplus of 78% in electricity trade so that the competition priorities of Europe are already well met with existing interconnections. The problem lies in Spanish exports to Europe which cannot be resolved until the substandard Girona network is renovated. Europe is not furthering competition rather covering up incompetence of the Madrid duopoly in Catalonia, REE and Endesa, by proceeding blindly with a new line without first ensuring substandard Catalan networks are renovated for competition really to have an impact on monopolistic behaviour. 

Costs biased in favour of an overhead line

1 The lie health, property and the environment cannot be valued in overhead lines
2 One million price-less trees destroyed
3 Forest arsonists
4 Full undergrounding

The lie health, property and the environment cannot be valued in overhead lines: CESI uses the exact same words as REE: "Evaluation methods do not exist nor is data available to value the environment, health and property for overhead and underground lines. Giving a monetary value to these aspects would first and foremost distort their importance to a mere added cost of the project and secondly a consensus would be difficult to find on the quantification of standard costs. Regarding the effect on health as a possible carcinogen in child leukaemia, the 2B classification rates like coffee."
 
One million price-less trees: One million trees wil be permanently eliminated in an era of global warming and desertification in the Mediterranean where tree cover is essential for rain stimulation and erosion protection against the torrential character of storms in Catalonia. These trees are mature and hence valuable and a long term loss as REE admits in answering separately on forest fires. The one million trees deforested are priceless and indeed price-less.

Forest arsonists: The Mediterranean lives in a cycle of droughts and wet periods. Catalonia has one of the highest forest cover in Europe. REE explains high towers attract lightning. This lightning produces direct costs to electricity consumers who suffer the downed lines and burnt out appliances, but the whole of society suffer from forest fires with permanent clearings and a permanent watch paid by REE consumers, forest guards and fire brigades paid by Catalan taxpayers, tree losses paid by forest owners, property losses paid by property owners, and wildlife losses paid by no one. Spanish courts are quite clear that overhead lines are one of the main culprits in forest fires together with criminal arson.

Full undergrounding: The about turn from undergrounding a mere 5 kms to the new proposal to bury the entire section crossing France from Baixàs to Santa Llogaia multiplies to at least 62 kms and as much as 103 kms underground, up to twenty times the initial proposal. Undergrounding 5 kms had increased the cost of the line by 63 million euros but five years later undergrounding an entire section is proven to be competitive. CESI now argues undergrounding has zero visual and sound impacts ("very important" overhead), can carry an overload of 200% (only 10% overhead), no need for access roads if along an existing road or rail line, half the operational costs, twenty times lower electricity losses costing 2% of investment (40% overhead), magnetic fields up to twelve times lower and only the cable cost significantly higher, three times more. Full costing is required for a meaningful comparison. 

Twelfth conclusion: Since undergrounding solely in France discriminates Catalans in Spain, a full undergrounding should be considered.

Illegal acts by REE and the Spanish government expose a web of lies and misbehaviour on knowledge of the European Interconnection, public consultation, use of Fascist methods of expropriation and contrary rulings of the Spanish courts. IAEDEN and AMMAT have formally asked European Coordinator Mario Monti to provide the correspondence from the Spanish and Catalan governments ordering REE to act illegally. 

The REE confession: "Although originally the definition of the entire interconnection was Sentmenat-Bescanó-Baixàs, delays in this single infrastructure due to disagreements over the frontier crossover led to the petition by the central and regional governments (Generalitat de Catalunya) to go ahead separately with the sections Sentmenat-Bescanó, Bescanó-Santa Llogaia and Santa Llogaia-French frontier."

The Spanish government admits the Sentmenat-Bescanó section is part of the European interconnection while allowing REE to lie: "It is an integral part of the Interconnection with France in order to increase the energy exchange capacity with that country and permit the connection of the Spanish 400 kV system with the European system in this tension." In the same 2007 order authorising the first section Sentmenat-Bescanó the Spanish government prints at least five times REE lies answering allegations: "The Interconnection with France is not the motive for this project."

Illegal acts revealed according to Spanish law

First illegal act by REE: A project part of a larger one must be viewed as part of the larger project.

Second illegal act by REE: The Environmental Impact Statement of the Sentmenat-Bescanó section submitted as an "internal" line required a different procedure as part of an international interconnection.

Third illegal act by the Catalan government: The Generalitat denied the Sentmenat-Bescanó line had anything to do with the European interconnection: "This project is not transnational so that there is no communication with the French State in the administrative files."

Fourth illegal act by the Spanish government: In the 2007 authorisation the central government admitted the Sentmenat-Bescanó section was part of the European Interconnection: "An integral part of the interconnection with France in order to increase the capacity to exchange power with this country and to promote the connection of the Spanish 400 kV system to the European system of this tension."

Fifth illegal act by the Spanish government and REE: While international negotiations are in process the entire project must not go ahead: "The planned timeline will be suspended until negotiations in the transfrontier process conclude."

The Spanish government lies about public consultation: Of 492 complaints listed individually by the Ministry of Industry, 67% of the allegations listed in their answer to the European Coordinator, REE has accepted 29. That is less than 6% of the complaints and less than 4% of the alleged public consultations. 

The Spanish government permits REE to use Fascist laws of expropriation: The Spanish transmission monopoly exploits Fascist "public service" provisions when electricity was a State monopoly to expropriate cheaply, avoiding paying market prices for a commercial new line by a private company. 

The Spanish government lets REE proceed with the Sentmenat-Bescanó section knowing Spanish courts reject partial projects: An entire project requires the study of alternatives which was not done with the Sentmenat-Bescanó section where the only "alternative" was REE adapting the project with the 6% of complaints it accepted. Spanish courts do not accept this salami tactic to impose an overhead line through unacceptable routes. The Tribunal Superior de Justicia in 2008 annulled the 2000 authorization for REE to build the overhead 440 kV line Soto-Penagos ordering the Spanish transmission monopoly to resubmit an Environmental Impact Statement for the entire route and restart from the beginning the authorisation procedure.

The European Union seems complicit in these illegal acts. The European Coordinator's consultant has admitted the first line of its 2008 report is false, that the European interconnection is not Bescanó-Baixàs, rather Sentmenat-Bescanó-Baixàs, but also finacing projects making use of obsolete Fascist laws. 

European complicity in the discrimination of Catalans in Spain 

The Spanish government uses three Fascist laws from 1924, 1954 and 1966, during the two military dictatorships, and ignores its own democratic and European law to push ahead with the European Interconnection, as the Riudarenes substation project of 2008 shows. The front cover states clearly: Project Co-Financed by the European Union. The European Union is thus complicit with the use of Fascist laws to circumvent the Aarhus Convention and the democratic Rule of Law

A private company, REE, has avoided complete Environmental Impact Statements, abused public service provisions and expropiated at extortionate prices. Environmental Impact Statements are still avoided in 2008 by ignoring the 2006 laws on the Aarhus Convention: Using the 6/2001 law modifying Decree 1302/1986 on Environmental Impact Statements "the current project does not have to undergo an Impact Evaluation Statement." REE as a private company exploits public service to use Fascist laws of 1924, 1954 and 1966 to expropriate: "Given the public service character of electricity supply declared in Decree 12/4/1924 the existence of a special procedure legitimising expropriation is legitimised. According to article 1 of the Law on Forcible Expropriation and Sanctions in the Matter of Electrical Installations (Law 10/1966) and article 52 of the Forcible Expropriation Law of 16/12/1954. In the emergency procedure it is sufficient to pay or deposit an amount known as down payment established unilaterally by the Administration to proceed immediately to occupy the good or right in question, postponing for a later period the determination of the Just Price." And REE expropriates at extortionate prices with forest and fallow land at 4% of the best valued irrigation price which explains the preference for routing overhead lines through forests, since expropriation is practically free. Prices do not reflect current values. The expropriation price in 2008 is based on the official rural land prices for 2005 increased by 10%. The 2006 prices should have been used with an increase of 7.2%. Adding the 2007 price increases the 2008 expropriation should double this. 

The European Commission does not want to know what is going on in Spain and is prepared as a result to discriminate Catalans in Spain by only undergrounding the French section to just over the Pyrenees. An identical European project with identical protests is treated differently according to where European citizens happen to live. The final report by Mario Monti will inform on the entire line as promised in answer to AMMAT and IAEDEN. Can he propose the discrimination of Catalans in Spain and indeed can the European Commission endorse overt discrimination of European citizens? 

The European Commission is trying to avoid answering on the misuse of the Rule of Law in Spain and European discrimination by arbitrarily cutting down the European Coordinator's role to "revision of sectors which have difficulties or important delays." In fact all three sectors have difficulties and important delays. The European Coordinator is ordered that "he cannot interfere with national plans." The French section has no national plan? The extensive exposure of lies, irregularities and illegalities should make the European Commission reconsider whether upholding the Rule of Law and not discriminating European citizens are priority European values, rather than covering up the Spanish government's inexcusable behaviour and defending the monopoly profits of REE.

6.4 Executive Summary 

Twelve conclusions arise from the evaluation of the MAT project:

1 The European Union should not proceed with the European Priority Electricity Interconnection Project Sentmenat (ES) – Bescanó (ES) –Baixàs (FR) as presently planned in application of the Precautionary Principle. 

2 A European decision based on the flawed CESI alternatives will lead to the wrong route, the wrong technical solution and the wrong costs for the European Priority Electricity Interconnection Project Sentmenat-Bescanó-Baixàs.

3 The cost of new underground cables can be broadly comparable to overhead lines and are increasingly preferred. The European Interconection overhead line does not include all health, property and environmental costs and should be budgeted at least at double the amount to compensate all affected parties and minimise impact. Undergrounding is only one third more than a fully costed overhead line. Sea cables are competitive and could be a preferred option near the sea like this project.

4 European discrimination of the Spanish section of the European interconnection is unacceptable. Undergrounding in France and Madrid is also valid in Spanish Catalonia, all equally European citizens in this European Priority Project.

5 The high speed train, yet to have a date of service, will be the sole user of the new 400 KV line, but provokes up to 28% of the instability in the Girona electricity supply despite consuming no more than 7% of the power in Girona. 

6 REE criticises local distribution monopoly Endesa for the inadmissible state of its network with inadmissible subtensions in six 110 kV and one 132 kV junctions, inadmissible loads in two 100 kV lines "which indicates the distribution network in Girona must be reinforced," and inadmissible overloads in 13 hotspots. 

7 REE is getting land for free, paying just 0.5% of the investment in expropriations, a ridiculous figure of 230,000 euros, lower than engineering fees, out of a total budget of 40,285,000 euros. The loss for just one property is 15 times more than what REE is compensating 558 properties for the entire Sentmenat-Bescanó section, with an average compensation of 412 euros per property.

8 REE admits the infrastructure corridor could be a good parallel route for eventual undergrounding, the first time there is no frontal rejection of undergrounding by REE.

9 The Spanish White Paper on Electricity proposes compensations should be part of the planning process so that local populations and the environment are adequately taken into account. 
	
10 Europe should be promoting new technologies, not outdated systems. Overhead lines are socially and politically obsolete.

11 When all costs are taken into account, not just the cable cost, undergrounding costs the same as an overhead line. The entire line, not just one section, should be undergrounded through a more rational route following the high speed train rather than the abrupt mountainous NIMBY route chosen, at one third more than the cost of an overhead line.

12 Since undergrounding solely in France discriminates Catalans in Spain, a full undergrounding should be considered.

In addition to these general conclusions a series of irregularites have been exposed. The first irregularity is that REE has fragmented the European Interconnection into seven projects:

	1 Sentmenat-Bescanó 400 kV Line
	2 Riudarenes Feed
	3 Riudarenes Substation
	4 Bescanó-Santa Llogaia 400 kV Line
	5 Ramis Substation
	6 Santa Llogaia Substation
	7 Santa Llogaia-French Frontier 400 kV Line

The second irregularity is that seven official alternatives by REE and the Spanish government have not been studied:

	1 Increase interconnection with the rest of Spain.
	2 New generation in Girona
	3 Double the existing Vic-Baixàs 400 kV line.
	4 Recover the Central Pyrenees route.
	5 Upgrade the Andorra line to 220 kV.
	6 New 400 kV line through the Western Pyrenees. 
	7 Renovate the Girona network.

The third irregularity is that seven alternatives proposed by the affected parties have not been studied either:

	1) Undergrounding
	2) Security
	3) Infrastructure corridor
	4) Energy efficiency
	5) Generation closer to consumer
	6) Better management of the system
	7) Renovate the Girona network

The fourth irregularity is that viable alternatives have been ignored:
 
1 Renovate existing lines across the Pyrenees:

	-Renovate Hernani-Argi 400 kV in the Basque Pyrenees and Vic-Baixàs 400 kV in the 	Catalan Pyrenees.
	-Double the lines in Hernani-Argi 400 kV in the Basque Pyrenees and Vic-Baixàs 400 	kV in the Catalan Pyrenees.
	-Upgrade to 400 kV the 225 kV line Biescas-Pragnères in the Aragonese Pyrenees.
	-Upgrade to 400 kV the 225 kV line Biescas-Pragnères in the Aragonese Pyrenees and 	renovate existing 400 kV lines.

2 Full undergrounding

3 A sea cable along the entire Catalan coast

Unresolved conflicts of the European Interconnection have been detailed:

1 Environmental Impacts
2 Efficiency and Renewable Energy
3 Price Differentials
4 Trade Barriers
5 Transparency and Participation

Unresolved planning deficiences of the European Interconnectionhave alos bene detailed:

1. The deficient Girona network
2. Renovation alternatives
3. The high speed train
4. Forest fires and deforestation
5. Undergrounding
6. Electro-magnetic fields
7. Sea cables
8 No real data used in planning the new line
9. Need for full costing

The new line has been shown to have no arguments: 

1 Spurious use of wind farms
2 The phantom train
3 Surplus imports

Costs habe been biased in favour of an overhead line:

1 The lie health, property and the environment cannot be valued in overhead lines
2 One million trees destroyed
3 Forest arsonists
4 Full undergrounding

The Spanish transmission monopoly REE admits that the European Interconnection is from Sentmenat to Baixàs, but delays and lack of agreement have made Spanish authorities pretend the sections inside Spain were not part of the European Project. Other official admission of lies, irregularities and illegalities:

1 The Girona network has been kept substandard to enforce the interconnection.
2 Other viable alternatives have been ignored.
3 The new line has no arguments.
4 Costs have been biased in favour of an overhead line.
5 The Spanish transmission monopoly REE and the Spanish government have engaged in illegal acts.
6 There is European complicity in the discrimination of Catalans in Spain.

Illegal acts revealed according to Spanish law:
First illegal act by REE: A project part of a larger one must be viewed as part of the larger project.

Second illegal act by REE: The Environmental Impact Statement of the Sentmenat-Bescanó section submitted as an "internal" line required a different procedure as part of an international interconnection.

Third illegal act by the Catalan government: The Generalitat denied the Sentmenat-Bescanó line had anything to do with the European interconnection: "This project is not transnational so that there is no communication with the French State in the administrative files."

Fourth illegal act by the Spanish government: In the 2007 authorisation the central government admitted the Sentmenat-Bescanó section was part of the European Interconnection: "An integral part of the interconnection with France in order to increase the capacity to exchange power with this country and to promote the connection of the Spanish 400 kV system to the European system of this tension."

Fifth illegal act by the Spanish government and REE: While international negotiations are in process the entire project must not go ahead: "The planned timeline will be suspended until negotiations in the transfrontier process conclude."

A serious consequence is that there is European complicity in the discrimination of Catalans in Spain. The Spanish government has used three Fascist laws from 1924, 1954 and 1966, during the two military dictatorships, and ignores its own democratic and European law to push ahead with the European Interconnection, as the Riudarenes substation project of 2008 shows. The front cover states clearly: Project Co-Financed by the European Union. The European Union is thus complicit with the use of Fascist laws to circumvent the Aarhus Convention and the democratic Rule of Law.

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