The Cabildo of Fuerteventura presents its own allegations to offshore wind

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Noticias:

The Cabildo of Fuerteventura presents its own allegations to offshore wind.

The Island Corporation requires that wind turbines do not invade areas of Biosphere Reserves, SPAs, SACs and places of community interest



Contrary to what Councillor Zapata had said this morning in relation to the unity of voice of the Canary Islands in terms of offshore wind, the Cabildo of Fuerteventura states in a press release "that it has presented allegations to the decree of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge of last February 26, which regulates the production of electricity in facilities located at sea. In this way, the Island Corporation demands that wind turbines must not invade core and buffer areas of the Biosphere Reserve, Natura 2000 Network or are adjacent. In addition, the implementation of electricity production in the marine environment must be implemented outside the limits of Special Protection Areas for Birds (SPAs), Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), Sites of Community Interest (SCIs) and highly sensitive areas of those species under special protection and the Spanish catalogue of threatened species. Other territories at risk for endangered species such as the great bustard, the guirre or the shearwater must also be taken into account."



Likewise, the Island Corporation reiterates its rejection of the Maritime Spaces Management Plan (POEM) approved by the Ministry, which defines six areas of high potential for offshore wind energy in Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Tenerife, and which scientific experts and fishermen's associations have defined as an attack on the fishing sector of the Archipelago and the conservation of the marine environment of the islands.

The Cabildo warns that almost half of the area proposed for the Canary Islands (561 square kilometres) falls on Fuerteventura. More than 192 square kilometers off the coasts of Tuineje and Antigua, and another area of 16.15 kilometers that extends east of the coast of Puerto del Rosario.



The island's president, Lola García, points out that "it was the Majorera brotherhoods that were the first to sound the alarm against a planning in which, as is often the case, we are the worst off island in terms of extension". "In addition, the established areas fall into the main fishing ground, on which 80% of the income from the fishing activity of Fuerteventura depends. For this reason, from the Cabildo we are always going to defend biodiversity and artisanal fishing in Fuerteventura".



The Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Matías Peña, has denounced that "what they are doing with Fuerteventura is not justice and from the institutions we will always be on the side of the fishermen to try to stop this attack on our traditional fishing activity that is the livelihood of many families, as well as our natural resources".

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Noticias:

The government affirms that it proposes a "consensual document" for Offshore Wind in the Canary Islands.

Zapata: "Our allegations to the document that will regulate offshore wind in Spain reflect the reality of the Canary Islands and the unity of the sector"


The Government and all the agents involved present to Miteco a consensual document and set of allegations, with a "Canarian accent" agreed after the celebration of the Offshore Wind Energy Roundtable



The main aspects of the allegations are to have a specific quota for the Canary Islands, compatibility with other activities, such as tourism and fishing, clarification of competences in the field of Coasts, the possibility of citizen participation in the shareholding, the promotion of employment and local industry or the development of innovative projects, always combined with respect for the environment



The Minister of Ecological Transition and Energy of the Government of the Canary Islands, Mariano H. Zapata, explained the joint allegations to the draft text presented by the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (Miteco) last February, through which the production of electricity in facilities located at sea will be regulated.



This document arises from a joint agreement between all the agents involved, both from the Autonomous Government itself, especially in the fields of Fisheries, Coasts, Regional Ports and Tourism, as well as from the public and private sectors, after the celebration of the second meeting of the Offshore Wind Energy Table, convened by the Ministry within the framework of the Wind Europe fair in Bilbao. between 20 and 22 March.



Mariano H. Zapata highlighted the importance of consensus when presenting these allegations, with a "Canarian accent", so that "our specificities are taken into account, allowing us to be pioneers in the implementation of offshore wind energy in Spain". A milestone that, as he pointed out, "will not only contribute to the penetration of renewables", but will "activate our value chain, diversify our economy, generate qualified jobs and advance our energy independence, positioning the Canary Islands as a national benchmark".



In this regard, the Minister of Ecological Transition and Energy thanked and valued this collaboration and unity, both on the part of the areas of Government involved, as well as on the part of the public-private sector and the different associations and entities involved. "We want the Canary Islands to have a unique voice, for which we have asked, listened to and taken into account all voices, combining sensitivities and positioning ourselves as a benchmark for this coordination".


The allegations in detail



Among the allegations to this draft, which will determine how the procedures that regulate it will be carried out, such as administrative authorizations, the economic regime or the mechanisms and procedures necessary for their granting, the Ministry has raised some of special interest for the Canary Islands.



Zapata explains that "we request that the Canary Islands have an independent quota in the development of offshore wind in this tender", given that this archipelago is the only region that alone makes up a single demarcation, and so that "we do not have to compete with the areas of the rest of the demarcations, given our territorial and electrical singularity" since "we are energy-isolated systems, unlike the Peninsula."



In addition, "we request that this Royal Decree contemplates not only state regulations, but also takes into account regional competences", since "the Canary Islands have the competences transferred from Costas" explained the minister. "We want the Canary Islands to play an active role here, and that the areas where the facilities will be located are agreed in advance."



In relation to the award criteria, Zapata explained that "we have requested that other parameters be mandatory beyond the price of the tender itself, such as the impact on job creation, on the development of local industry or synergies with fishing or tourism". In addition to "including citizen participation, with shareholding, in the construction of new parks."



Regarding the rest of the allegations, another of the aspects raised by the Canary Islands is "to address the possibility of carrying out innovative projects in places such as the green islands, which, lacking Maritime Spatial Planning Plans (POEM), will find in this formula a possible way out of their very specific reality and difference from the rest of the country and the archipelago", the counselor pointed out.



Finally, "we have also asked the Ministry to contemplate the possibility of equating the regional ports to the State Ports", so that "they are allowed to carry out installations outside the competition and of an innovative nature", explained the minister.





For the presentation of these allegations, the General Directorate of Coasts and Management of the Canary Islands Marine Area, the General Directorate of Fisheries and the General Directorate of Tourism Infrastructure have participated in the Offshore Wind Roundtable.



Likewise, the port authorities of both provinces, the Harbour Master's Office, the Government Delegation, the Autonomous Ports of the Canary Islands, the Canary Islands Maritime Cluster, the Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands (PLOCAN), the Technological Institute of the Canary Islands (ITC), the Canary Islands Association of Renewable Energies (ACER) and the Canary Islands Wind Association (AEOLICAN) have also contributed from the public and private sectors.

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Noticias:

The government affirms that it proposes a "consensual document" for Offshore Wind in the Canary Islands.

Zapata: "Our allegations to the document that will regulate offshore wind in Spain reflect the reality of the Canary Islands and the unity of the sector"


The Government and all the agents involved present to Miteco a consensual document and set of allegations, with a "Canarian accent" agreed after the celebration of the Offshore Wind Energy Roundtable



The main aspects of the allegations are to have a specific quota for the Canary Islands, compatibility with other activities, such as tourism and fishing, clarification of competences in the field of Coasts, the possibility of citizen participation in the shareholding, the promotion of employment and local industry or the development of innovative projects, always combined with respect for the environment



The Minister of Ecological Transition and Energy of the Government of the Canary Islands, Mariano H. Zapata, explained the joint allegations to the draft text presented by the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (Miteco) last February, through which the production of electricity in facilities located at sea will be regulated.



This document arises from a joint agreement between all the agents involved, both from the Autonomous Government itself, especially in the fields of Fisheries, Coasts, Regional Ports and Tourism, as well as from the public and private sectors, after the celebration of the second meeting of the Offshore Wind Energy Table, convened by the Ministry within the framework of the Wind Europe fair in Bilbao. between 20 and 22 March.



Mariano H. Zapata highlighted the importance of consensus when presenting these allegations, with a "Canarian accent", so that "our specificities are taken into account, allowing us to be pioneers in the implementation of offshore wind energy in Spain". A milestone that, as he pointed out, "will not only contribute to the penetration of renewables", but will "activate our value chain, diversify our economy, generate qualified jobs and advance our energy independence, positioning the Canary Islands as a national benchmark".



In this regard, the Minister of Ecological Transition and Energy thanked and valued this collaboration and unity, both on the part of the areas of Government involved, as well as on the part of the public-private sector and the different associations and entities involved. "We want the Canary Islands to have a unique voice, for which we have asked, listened to and taken into account all voices, combining sensitivities and positioning ourselves as a benchmark for this coordination".


The allegations in detail



Among the allegations to this draft, which will determine how the procedures that regulate it will be carried out, such as administrative authorizations, the economic regime or the mechanisms and procedures necessary for their granting, the Ministry has raised some of special interest for the Canary Islands.



Zapata explains that "we request that the Canary Islands have an independent quota in the development of offshore wind in this tender", given that this archipelago is the only region that alone makes up a single demarcation, and so that "we do not have to compete with the areas of the rest of the demarcations, given our territorial and electrical singularity" since "we are energy-isolated systems, unlike the Peninsula."



In addition, "we request that this Royal Decree contemplates not only state regulations, but also takes into account regional competences", since "the Canary Islands have the competences transferred from Costas" explained the minister. "We want the Canary Islands to play an active role here, and that the areas where the facilities will be located are agreed in advance."



In relation to the award criteria, Zapata explained that "we have requested that other parameters be mandatory beyond the price of the tender itself, such as the impact on job creation, on the development of local industry or synergies with fishing or tourism". In addition to "including citizen participation, with shareholding, in the construction of new parks."



Regarding the rest of the allegations, another of the aspects raised by the Canary Islands is "to address the possibility of carrying out innovative projects in places such as the green islands, which, lacking Maritime Spatial Planning Plans (POEM), will find in this formula a possible way out of their very specific reality and difference from the rest of the country and the archipelago", the counselor pointed out.



Finally, "we have also asked the Ministry to contemplate the possibility of equating the regional ports to the State Ports", so that "they are allowed to carry out installations outside the competition and of an innovative nature", explained the minister.





For the presentation of these allegations, the General Directorate of Coasts and Management of the Canary Islands Marine Area, the General Directorate of Fisheries and the General Directorate of Tourism Infrastructure have participated in the Offshore Wind Roundtable.



Likewise, the port authorities of both provinces, the Harbour Master's Office, the Government Delegation, the Autonomous Ports of the Canary Islands, the Canary Islands Maritime Cluster, the Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands (PLOCAN), the Technological Institute of the Canary Islands (ITC), the Canary Islands Association of Renewable Energies (ACER) and the Canary Islands Wind Association (AEOLICAN) have also contributed from the public and private sectors.