Noise, smoke, ashes, and dust: Environmental injustice and local struggles associated with a biomass power plant in Portugal

Abstract

This article uses the Fundão biomass electricity plant as a case study to examine the environmental injustices and local struggles surrounding biomass power plants in Portugal. The objective is to contribute to the study of environmental controversies related to the country’s energy transition by providing an in-depth, empirical analysis of a little researched case. Firstly, the study shows that the benefits and costs of the plant’s operation are distributed unequally, negatively impacting the residents of Sítio da Gramenesa despite their efforts. Secondly, the residents were not informed about the project in advance, nor were they involved in the respective decision-making process. Thirdly, they were not recognised as legitimate stakeholders in the energy facility.