We live in times of uncertainty, in which the recent pandemic, the war in Ukraine or the costs derived from the impacts of climate change remind us that nothing is forever, that yesterday's bonanza can become a crisis today and that the era of wasting fossil fuels has passed into history, and with it, a lifestyle that we must say goodbye to.
The PSOE has always been committed to the defense of the environment and the fight against climate change, demands sewn into our history and reflected in the presentations of successive Congresses. And on this philosophical basis rests the action plan of the Secretariat of Sustainability, Environment, Energy and Industry of Lanzarote, whose ultimate goal is to contribute to the necessary transition from the old model based on oil to a new one, which prioritizes investment in renewable energies and promotes the intelligent management of natural resources.
According to figures from the Canary Islands Institute of Statistics, between 1998 and 2002 only 2.78% of the energy generated in Lanzarote came from wind sources. For these levels of production, Lanzarote had two wind farms, Montaña Mina, in San Bartolomé, a privately owned installation, and Los Valles, in Teguise, whose ownership is still maintained by Inalsa, with 60%, and Unelco Endesa, with the rest.
In the year 2000, with the arrival of the PSOE to the Cabildo, under the presidency of Manuela Armas, a turning point occurred. We were able to bring the seven town councils into agreement to, together with the island government, compete through Inalsa in the wind power tender promoted by the Government of the Canary Islands, an award that would allow increasing the production of renewable energy in the Canary Islands by 344 megawatts, of which 37 would be for Lanzarote.
Having obtained the tender with difficulties, resources and obstacles in the wheels, it can be said that this was the beginning of the energy transition in Lanzarote, maintaining renewable energy production in public hands.
The wind farms that were built and are being built are the result of a clear and determined commitment to the implementation of renewables by the Socialist Party. If we are convinced of anything on this island, it is our capacity for energy sovereignty, thanks to the flow of sun, wind, tides and geothermal energy that we have.
The Teguise I, Arrecife and San Bartolomé wind farms are the result of that tender. The one in Arrecife has been executed in this term and the one in San Bartolomé is in the process of being launched. Once it comes into operation, the wind power that existed when Loli Corujo arrived at the Cabildo will be doubled. We will achieve a total of 40.7 MW of public wind power. And another fact to take into account: In 2019 these facilities accounted for 7.8% of the total annual electricity production.
In the coming months we will reach 14.2% of the total installed electricity generation. Ahead of us are the projects submitted for financing by the Next Generation funds, for an amount of 40 million euros, which aim to implement the future wind farms necessary to complete the energy transition of Lanzarote and La Graciosa.
But at this point, in which we can only show satisfaction for a race for clean energy that we have won against political inaction and the economic interests defended by the forces of the right, we must stop to reflect on the planning and the impacts of these technologies on the territory. Because we cannot put at risk our landscape, heritage of the people of Lanzarote and the first attractive element of our tourist clientele.
The promotion of renewables must be done with the care and precautions that have always characterized us, with the guarantee of balance between the undoubted economic profitability of renewable facilities and the environmental benefits, with the defense and protection of the territory, which in no case are we willing to renounce.
