Speaker
Description
The territories of energy production often do not coincide with those of their consumption. The "energy footprint" of urban areas has always extended over increasingly large basins, shaping distant and detached territories and creating "reciprocal landscapes." For example, for much of the 20th century, hydropower production has particularly impacted alpine territories near urban areas, marginal and fragile regions both in socio-economic terms and in terms of representation and self-determination. The construction of these infrastructures has not merely juxtaposed with the existing forms of territories but has instead led to drastic transformations, including the physical erasure of landscapes (valley submersions) and the alteration of natural and economic metabolisms (reduced water flow has changed river ecosystems and related activities). Over time, these infrastructures have failed to provide benefits to the surrounding areas (in many cases, the regions hosting the plants were the last electrified) and have even caused catastrophic repercussions (e.g., the Vajont disaster). These events are not as distant from us as they may seem. Today, energy transition policies and pressing narratives about energy and water security have once again turned the spotlight on mountainous regions and their potential infrastructural development, reviving long-standing tensions. However, something new seems to be emerging in this era of re-infrastructuring: historical memory and the growing awareness of local communities have fostered a widespread network of conflicts, forcing a reassessment and redesign of these projects. This situation presents an opportunity: acknowledging and giving agency to these conflicts by emphasising their spatial dimension could enable a fair and balanced design that considers both the external interests of the infrastructure and the local needs of the communities (human and non-human) living nearby.
This contribution aims to reinterpret five stories of conflict in the Piave basin in the Eastern Italian Alps, highlighting often latent but ever-present spatial and design-related issues. The construction of small hydroelectric plants, the reconfiguration of a high-voltage power line, the management of an old hydroelectric reservoir, and the funding for a new one for water supply all serve as examples of the new forms of territorial injustice tied to hydropower. At the same time, these cases reveal new potential design approaches that emerge from conflict and strive for a balance between external and local interests.
| Keywords | hydroelectric; energy security; mountain; energy conflict |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | Yes |
