Friday, July 24, 2015, was no ordinary day in the Ministry of Industry. The elections of May 24 had left the Government of the Canary Islands in a situation of interim, waiting for the new executive to renew the positions. The new president was invested on July 7 in Parliament, and the previous ministers ceased from July 10. The intermediate positions of the Ministries would remain for a few more days.
One of the areas where more changes were expected was Industry. During the previous four years it had been managed by the PSOE and now it was under the direction of CC.
In fact, July 24, 2015 was the last day of the team led by Paquita Luengo: on Saturday 25 they were replaced.
But on that day that was supposed to be for farewells, thanks and good wishes, the priority was another for the 'interim' General Directorate of Industry: to sign four resolutions with which different works related to the new power line and its towers in Fuerteventura were declared "of public utility". All within a macro-project, conveniently divided - to the greater glory of the large electricity companies - to trample on the opinion and democratic decision of the Island.
Dozens of institutional agreements, debates of all kinds and negotiations in a thousand instances had managed to paralyze these electricity projects for years, with the commitment of the Government of the Canary Islands that it would not be installed if Fuerteventura did not give its approval.
This is what was done at the time with the plant that was planned in Agando and also responded in the same way to attempts to build a regasification plant in Gran Canaria: if the local and island institutions did not accept these projects, the Government of the Canary Islands would not impose them. That is the correct way to act. That is Canarian nationalism.
With respect to the new power line in Fuerteventura, the local refusal is not a whim.
Despite the social pressure that the recurring power cuts transferred to local institutions, the truth is that there was and is a very clear idea: that large power line is not designed for this Island, but rather to connect other territories by mandate of the electricity companies' profit account. We must bet on making the most of the existing line and, if it is necessary to do new works, that they be with the least territorial and neighborhood impact possible.
Those who from their offices devised the towers did not expect this island resistance.
The farewell resolutions of July 24 in the 'interim' General Directorate once again provoked the local reaction: the neighbors protested, the town halls rejected them, the Cabildo warned with resources and in Parliament we obtained the commitment of the new rectors of the Ministry to review and seek alternatives agreed with local institutions.
But something must happen in that Ministry of Industry where time runs and the answers to local institutions do not arrive (but the intricacies for the interests of the large electricity companies do, as we have seen).
The fruitless wait led the Cabildo to file an appeal and request precautionary measures to suspend the 'interim' resolution that had the most effect on the territory. Because since August, the boards and hills of Fuerteventura have been populated with 4x4s and tractors of the electricity companies in a mad race to erect towers and environmental destruction of all kinds that has the entire Island in revolt.
What has the TSJC order now told the Government? Well, that the Government did it wrong.
It says that the authorization given to Red Eléctrica is based on the fact that the Canarian law of the sector establishes that when there are reasons of urgency or exceptional interest to modernize the power line, the Ministry may declare the works "of general interest". But it also adds that although these projects that are to be declared "of general interest" are not subject to ordinary urban planning license, they must be sent to the town hall for authorization and to the Cabildo to report. And that in the case of disagreement with the planning, the Government of the Canary Islands will have to modify or revise the territorial or urban planning rule.
Yes, that's it. When the 'interim' General Directorate of Industry waited until the last day of its mandate to sign the resolutions of the towers of Fuerteventura, it also did so skipping the Government of the Canary Islands' own Law that required the necessary prior consultation with local institutions and the consequent modification of the affected planning.
Let's recap: 'interim' General Directorate, which waits until the last day of its mandate to authorize a large project - which was already conveniently divided to avoid the strategic environmental assessment - skips the Canarian Law of the sector itself and does not wait for consultations with local institutions or to complete the modification of the planning.
Having reached this point, don't you think that the current Ministry of Industry of the Government of the Canary Islands should do something more now? We have already said it in Parliament on several occasions and we are going to continue doing so.
To begin with, review ex officio all the resolutions of the power line in which it was acted in the same way and suspend its application, because seen the order of the TSJC there is more than enough basis to do so.
Carry out that same review on the different 'divided' files. Because it is obvious that it is a macro project that crosses three islands and that, therefore, cannot be resolved with partial environmental reports but with a strategic environmental assessment
Of course, do not undertake any action against the interests of an island and turning its back on its institutions. And do not wait for the TSJC to officially communicate the order, but claim it and send to stop the works now. It would not hurt to also supervise the works, which during this week have accelerated even at night.
Finally, prepare the demolition orders of the towers, because it is time that in these islands where 'interim' General Directorates sign resolutions in injury time skipping regional laws and the island will, begin to act against large electricity companies with the same forcefulness with which livestock farms and irregular housing are demolished.
Because acting like this, next to the people of the islands and against the multinationals, is Canarian nationalism. And respecting the decision of local institutions is the best way to establish a solid and appreciated Government of the Canary Islands in all the islands, which is far above the apocalyptic threats about the future of the energy system and renewables with which they now scare the majoreros for having stopped the work.
Mario Cabrera González, CC Deputy for Fuerteventura
