Environmental protest in Tyrol

Concert at 2500 meters against power plant expansion

The Platzertal

(Bild: WWF)

On Sunday, the environmental organization WWF and several citizens' initiatives held a concert at 2,500 meters above sea level to demand a stop to the expansion plans for the Kaunertal power plant. The valuable Platzertal valley must be preserved, and there is also a nature-friendly alternative in Kühtai, was the tenor.

"Tiroler Wasserkraft AG must finally bury its planning fossil, the expansion of the Kaunertal power plant," demanded WWF water protection expert Maximilian Frey. And Elmar Greil, spokesman for the citizens' initiative "Unique Platzertal", emphasized: "The preservation of nature and pastureland in our Platzertal is important for the local biodiversity, but also for the quality of life of the population." Profit and gain should not come at the expense of the environment and future generations.

The preservation of nature and pastureland in our Platzertal valley is important for local biodiversity.

Elmar Greil, Sprecher der Bürgerinitiative „Einzigartiges Platzertal“

At the beginning of June, Tiwag communicated its adapted plans for the expansion of the power plant. The new division into two project parts will make the initially planned diversion of water from the Ötztal valley unnecessary for the time being. The first step is to implement the new Versetz pumped storage power plant with the Platzertal reservoir.

A special kind of protest concert
On Sunday, four bands and musicians played at 2500 meters above sea level despite pouring rain to demonstrate against the destruction of the Platzertal - definitely a special kind of protest concert.