The Parliament of the Canary Islands hosted this Thursday the parliamentary Commission of Ecological Transition and Energy in which the socialist deputy, Marcos Bergaz, has asked the Minister of Ecological Transition and Energy, Mariano Zapata (PP), about the “failed” Renewable Acceleration Zone (ZAR) in Lanzarote and La Graciosa.
A ZAR that, according to the Protocol signed by the Ministry of Transition and the Cabildo of Lanzarote, published on August 20, foresaw a total of 3,163 hectares, the equivalent of 4,200 football fields, 3.75% of the island's territory.
“We say foresaw, because it seems that it will change” -said Deputy Bergaz-, "in view of the recent statements of the Cabildo and the reactions produced after its publication, with criticisms ranging from the lack of participation and municipal consensus, to calling the excessive surface area planned a nonsense.”
“Expected reactions, in a matter that affects future wind and photovoltaic installations on an island that lives off its landscape. In fact -added Marcos Bergaz-, months ago we demanded that the Canarian Government act with tact, consensus and planning in the determination of the ZAR, necessary to fight against climate change and meet the 2030 objectives, but not at any price, or place.”
Although Councilor Mariano Zapata (PP) defended the rigor of the proposal in his speech, “Lanzarote is the first island in the archipelago to have a formal agreement that delimits its suitable land. The qualified area amounts to 3,100 hectares, which is equivalent to 3.75% of the island's surface area, although to meet the objectives on that island only 0.23% of the island's territory would be needed”; he previously pointed to the existence of a “material error, purely administrative”, which he did not specify, despite the deputy's request.
Hours later, it was the Cabildo that stated the restart of the procedure for determining the Renewable Acceleration Zone: “We are going to start the procedure again”, after denouncing that the reserved area and the published plans do not correspond to what was agreed and published in a press release and official gazette of the Canary Islands.
“Of course, a detailed explanation of what happened is needed, of the slip-up with this ‘failed’ ZAR, and to clarify whether we are facing a simple material error or a fundamental rectification of the proposal presented ´with great fanfare´ this month of July, with the signature of the protocol by the island president, the nationalist Oswaldo Betancort (CC), and the Minister of Ecological Transition, Mariano Zapata (PP)”, said Bergaz.
“In addition to the appropriate clarifications and corrections, we insist on the need to determine the ZAR with tact and consensus with the municipalities, since the island institution is as important as the seven town halls, even more so with the problematic background that has existed in the form of attempts at new wind farms or photovoltaic plants via the exceptional 6 bis, contrary to the municipal will”, concluded the deputy.
Data on the Renewable Acceleration Zone in Lanzarote
The figure of the acceleration zones is contemplated in Decree Law 5/2024 that modified the current Law on climate change and energy transition of the Canary Islands of 2022, and aims to "speed up the penetration of clean sources of energy generation in the islands", such as the installation of wind farms and photovoltaic plants, by facilitating administrative and environmental procedures.
According to the official information published after the presentation of the ZAR of the island of Lanzarote by the Government of the Canary Islands and the Cabildo, now questioned, the area qualified as suitable as ZAR would be a bag of 3,163.89 hectares, which is equivalent to 3.75% of the total of the island. Of which, to achieve the 2030 decarbonization objectives, the actual occupation area is estimated at 0.23% of the island's surface area, as stated in the following link, where the locations are also listed.