Entrepreneurs join forces against above-ground Ventilus project
Ventilus is the new high-voltage project that further distributes the green electricity on land from the sea. This requires a high-voltage line from north to south in our province, to Avelgem. The protest against the overhead power line quickly grew in every municipality involved.
“Only underground”
Companies from central West Flanders are now also joining them, including Skyline, Boucherie, Vanrobaeys, Driessens and Bobrush. “We are not against green energy, nor the Ventilus project,” says Bulik 2.0 initiator Sofie Vandenbriele. “We are in favor of Ventilus, and as quickly as possible, but only if it is installed underground on direct current. As an entrepreneur, we are also responsible for the health of our current and future employees, without them we don’t even need electricity.”
Through the eye
“The largest number of industrial buildings have only recently been built,” says Vandenbriele. The companies have paid a lot of money for beautiful, prestigious buildings and land along the highway. Investments have been made in sustainability, green zones, fitness at work, attractive hours, ergonomic offices. Such an overhead power cable is therefore a thorn in the side of anyone who has invested, and it makes competition even more difficult with foreign companies.”