A protest against a proposed 65-kilometer high-voltage power line connecting Jonquières in the Gard to Fos-sur-Mer in the Bouches-du-Rhône is set to occur in Arles. The event, called a "front of refusal," is expected to gather a diverse group of participants, including horse riders, manadiers (traditional herders of Camargue horses), winemakers, natural area managers, activists, and dozens of elected officials from various political parties, including the far-right RN, as well as citizen collectives. The power line, which would carry 400,000 volts, is expected to be completed by 2030 and would cross the vineyards of the Costières de Nîmes, the Camargue natural park, a world biodiversity reserve, and the Crau plain, a rare Mediterranean steppe in Europe. Opponents of the project argue that it would cause "irreversible" environmental and ecological damage, particularly to bird species some of which are already endangered. They also warn of negative impacts on agriculture and tourism in the region. On the other hand, the French government and industrial groups see the line as crucial for decarbonizing the large industrial and port area of Marseille-Fos, which is expected to host major electricity-consuming projects in the coming years. The protest, which will take place in the ancient theater of Arles during the Heritage Days, is viewed by the THT 13/30 collective—a coalition of 34 local associations—as the "last chance" to stop the project. The group fears that the prefect may soon initiate the preliminary investigation for the Declaration of Public Utility (DUP), which would officially approve the construction after the senatorial elections. The presidents of the two affected regions, Renaud Muselier (Renaissance, PACA) and Carole Delga (PS, Occitanie), have each written to the prefect expressing concerns about the possibility of a "forced passage." Muselier warns that this could lead to an "irreversible blockage," while Delga questions the relevance of the power line and calls for its abandonment. Despite months of public consultation and a "global public debate" in spring 2025, the opposing sides remain at an impasse. RTE, the national electricity network operator, claims it has chosen a "least impact" route, while opponents have suggested partially burying the line, a solution they argue is too costly and too late to meet the deadlines for upcoming industrial projects. In an opinion piece published in late August, the Environmental Authority (Ae) expressed concerns about RTE's plan, recommending that alternative solutions be thoroughly explored before the project can be officially declared a public utility. The Ae emphasized that "the cost, the deadline or the complexity are not sufficient [...] to rule out a solution significantly less damaging." Opponents have vowed to pursue numerous legal challenges to block the project. Some activists have even hinted that they may escalate their actions, referencing the "Notre-Dame de Camargue" movement, a reference to the ZAD of Notre-Dame-des-Landes in Loire-Atlantique, a well-known site of anti-infrastructure protests.