Ecologists in Action Lanzarote considers it “incoherent” that, “in the name of clean energies,” the territory is intended to be occupied with solar panels and wind turbines “without a real public debate” and without planning based on social, environmental, and energy justice criteria, in a context in which Lanzarote society already questions tourist expansion and land occupation.
The collective denounces the “imposition” of the Renewable Acceleration Zones (ZAR) by the Government of the Canary Islands, a measure that, in their opinion, once again “disregards the citizenry” and ignores the “multitudinous demonstrations” held to stop the occupation of the territory and protect the natural heritage.
From the organization, they ask themselves "who benefits" from these "oversized" infrastructures and what real impact they have on the local population.
Likewise, they warn that one cannot continue “at the mercy of the electricity oligopolies”, exploiting natural resources without that translating into “a reduction in the electricity bill” for the citizenry.
In this regard, they advocate a change of model towards “a distributed system”, based on “self-consumption”, “energy communities” and the use of already transformed spaces, with the aim of avoiding impact on the landscape, biodiversity and the island's identity.
For Ecologists in Action Lanzarote, the solution involves “energy saving” and a “responsible management of the territory”, prioritizing the well-being of the population and the conservation of natural heritage.
“The Government of the Canary Islands, however, seems willing to sacrifice these values rather than revoke the protocol in question and bet on an exemplary island,” concludes the collective, which calls on citizens, social groups and local administrations to “oppose this model” and work for a “just, democratic and territory-respecting energy transition”
