La Plana-Morella Power Line: What It Means for Landowners in Castellón

Key data

Landowners in 16 municipalities in the province of Castellón face a scenario of forced expropriation following the authorization granted to Red Eléctrica de España, SAU to build the double-circuit overhead line at 400 kV called «La Plana-Morella 2 and 3». The Resolution of June 8, 2026, from the General Directorate of Energy Policy and Mines, published in the BOE on June 22, 2026, not only grants construction authorization, but expressly declares the public utility of the infrastructure, which activates the legal mechanism of expropriation and right of way.

The file has been in process since 2009, which gives an idea of the technical, environmental and administrative complexity of the project. The resolution also incorporates the technical modifications included in the «Addendum 3», for which prior administrative and construction authorization is also granted.

What does this regulation establish?

The resolution grants three distinct authorizations in a single administrative act:

• Administrative construction authorization for the double-circuit overhead line at 400 kV «La Plana-Morella 2 and 3».
• Prior administrative and construction authorization for the technical modifications introduced in «Addendum 3».
• Declaration of public utility, which enables forced expropriation and the imposition of right of way on the affected land.

The route runs through the following 16 municipalities in the province of Castellón:

Several municipalities along the route opposed the line for environmental and urban planning reasons, requesting underground installation or dismantling of the existing line. However, their objections were overridden by administrative silence. The dismantling of the current line is conditioned to what the environmental impact statement establishes.

Economic and operational impact

For affected landowners, the most immediate impact is the right of way and potential forced expropriation. The declaration of public utility is the legal instrument that allows Red Eléctrica to initiate procedures for occupation of private land, both temporarily (during construction) and permanently (aerial and passage easement).

From an operational perspective, companies and individuals with properties in the 16 municipalities must take into account:

• The right of way limits land use under and around the line (building restrictions, tree planting, agricultural activities of certain height).
• The expropriation procedure involves negotiation of fair compensation, with the possibility of appeal if the owner disagrees with the offered valuation.
• Aspects related to the dismantling of the existing electrical line will depend on what the environmental impact statement establishes, which introduces additional uncertainty about the timeline.
• The technical modifications of «Addendum 3» may alter the route compared to previous versions of the project, so it is necessary to verify if the property is included in the updated route.

Who does it affect?

• Owners of rural and urban land in the 16 municipalities of the route, especially on non-urbanizable land.
• Agricultural and livestock companies with operations in the line corridor.
• Real estate developers with land under development in the affected municipalities.
• Municipalities of the 16 municipalities, which must adapt their urban planning to the new infrastructure.
• Red Eléctrica de España, SAU, as the authorization holder and responsible for project execution.
• Energy sector companies interested in the transport capacity that the new line will provide to the electrical system in the interior of Castellón.

Practical example

An owner of an agricultural property in the municipality of Vall d'Alba —one of the 16 municipalities in the route— receives notification that their plot is affected by the right of way of the «La Plana-Morella 2 and 3» line. Since the resolution already declares public utility, Red Eléctrica can initiate the forced expropriation file without needing additional administrative procedures for authorization.

The owner has the right to participate in the fair compensation determination procedure. If no agreement is reached with Red Eléctrica in the mutual agreement phase, the file goes to the Provincial Expropriation Board, and subsequently administrative litigation is possible. Since the file has been in process since 2009 and the modifications of «Addendum 3» may have altered the route, it is advisable to verify with updated documentation whether the property remains included in the expropriation perimeter.

What should companies do now?

1. Verify if your land is in the updated route: consult the documentation of «Addendum 3» to confirm if your property is included in the affected perimeter, as technical modifications may have changed the original route.
2. Review administrative notifications received: if you have already received communications from Red Eléctrica or the administration, check the deadlines for submitting objections or accepting fair compensation.
3. Obtain specialized legal advice on expropriation: the declaration of public utility has been in force since June 22, 2026; acting quickly in fair compensation negotiation can significantly improve the economic outcome.
4. Evaluate the impact on urban planning: if you are a developer or municipality, review whether the right of way affects land under development or with projects in process.
5. Monitor the dismantling process of the existing line: this aspect is conditioned to the environmental impact statement, so it is advisable to monitor its progress if it affects your activity or property.

Official source

Consult complete regulation in official source

Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-13563