The Ministry of Ecological Transition and Energy of the Government of the Canary Islands has reached an agreement with the Island Council of Lanzarote to delimit its Renewable Acceleration Zones (RAZ) on the island. A commitment acquired that takes shape after the recent approval of the Climate Change Decree Law last May in the Governing Council.
Both parties have agreed, in this line of collaboration, to continue working to have "a delimitation of the areas in which renewable energies can be developed on the island, always with the utmost respect for the environment", as reported on Friday afternoon in a press release.
The Minister of Ecological Transition, Mariano H. Zapata, pointed out that "it is a significant step towards the consolidation of a sustainable energy future for Lanzarote and a confirmation that the new Law is the result of consensus." In this sense, he also recalled "the clear confrontation that existed between the administrations and the previous law, which were totally against the so-called PTCan", and where now "we have worked to speed up processes and be transparent."
For her part, the Deputy Minister Julieta Shallenberg explained that "the RAZs are a novel tool within the law, which provides legal certainty to implement renewables and facilitate them" so, with this agreement, "we have managed to define the criteria for choosing these areas, thus contributing to advance in our decarbonization objective in a consensual manner with the true connoisseurs of the territory."
Likewise, she thanked the Cabildo for its collaboration and participation, pointing out that "being pioneers, they can also be a reference for the rest of the islands, thus also facilitating their rapid implementation."
For his part, the president of the Island Council of Lanzarote, pointed out that "we are pleased to have reached this agreement with the Ministry of Ecological Transition" and pointed out that "we are committed to moving towards a more sustainable energy model, where this agreement will be essential to achieve it."
"Following the joint work with the Government of the Canary Islands, we have focused our efforts on the selection of the ideal places for the installation of renewable energies, always prioritizing the minimization of environmental and landscape impact, as pointed out by our Minister of Territorial Planning and Territorial Policy, Jesús Machín," he says.
"I would also like to highlight the commitment and tireless work of our Minister of Energy, Miguel Ángel Jiménez, and the area he coordinates to advance the decarbonization of Lanzarote. These joint efforts are a clear reflection of our commitment to sustainable development and the protection of the natural environment of Lanzarote, ensuring a cleaner and greener future for generations to come," said Betancort.
