Solar panel factory near Aveiro

It might seem from my recent posts on IKEA and Pescanova that the Portuguese government use the classification "Project of National Importance" (PIN) as a way to circumvent any environmental concern. Although in JdN 2007-01-05 there is an article about a solar panel factory that has attained PIN status. Although there seem to be a hickup since a new conference centre (Exponor) also has PIN status for an overlapping area. The article is a bit confusing. They talk about Matosinhos and Aveiro. But I think the factory is supposed to be in Aveiro. There already is an Exponor in Leca da Palmeira (which is close to Matosinhos).

The spin of the article is that the solar panel factory threatens the conference centre (sic!). I guess Portugal has its fair share of conference centres already. A solar panel factory, which is described as high tech, is certainly much more needed in Portugal. Not only for the high tech but for the positive environmental impact of using solar energy.