Municipalities reject government’s renewable energy ‘Green Map’

Portugal’s municipalities have already delivered a major blow to the government’s flagship ‘renewable energy planning strategy’ – launched today with the state news agency information being kept to a minimum.

The reality, laid out by more-conservation led publications, is that the government has identified over 1.300 priority areas for solar and wind projects across the country – and stresses that these areas “do not prevent renewable energy projects from being developed elsewhere in the country”.

In other words, the country’s political leaders are presenting a veritable ‘renewable energy fest’ to potential investors/ developers – and the national association of Portuguese municipalities (ANMP) can see the pitfalls lying ahead.

According to Público this morning, ANMP has already issued “a broadly negative opinion on the proposed Renewable Energy Acceleration Zones (ZAER), known as the “Green Map”.

ANMP has raised concerns over both the content of the plan, and the way the process is conducted by the government and the Mission Structure for Renewable Energy Acceleration (EMER 2030).

The situation threatens to complicate Portugal’s efforts to accelerate renewable energy deployment and meet ambitious targets under its National Energy and Climate Plan (PNEC), says the newspaper.

Municipalities criticise lack of information, tight deadlines

In its submission, the ANMP says local authorities were given just 20 days to assess what is a highly complex proposal – arguing that the deadline prevented a thorough technical evaluation.

The association also complains that key geographic data and mapping files were only made available on May 15 – barely two weeks before municipalities were required to submit their opinions.

The late release of information represented a major obstacle to providing an informed assessment of the plan, ANMP adds.

Fears over local planning powers

One of the strongest criticisms concerns what ANMP describes as the growing dominance of energy policy over local land-use planning.

The association warns against the “progressive subordination” of territorial planning to renewable energy objectives – arguing that streamlining licensing procedures must not come at the expense of municipal authority over urban planning and territorial management.

In other words, ANMP rejects any approach that weakens local decision-making powers, even if it is dressed up as being ‘accelerating the energy transition, and increasing investor confidence’.

Concerns over ‘Mega Solar Farms’

Municipal leaders have also warned against treating land primarily as a platform for energy infrastructure – raising concerns about the impact of large-scale renewable energy developments on forests, agriculture, tourism and biodiversity.

Particular concern has been expressed over the inclusion of protected forest areas within some of the proposed acceleration zones. ANMP describes this as a “serious” issue requiring clarification, and correction.

The association argues (as have and do so many communities) that Portugal’s energy transition must be developed alongside local communities rather than imposed upon them.

The association also called for greater emphasis on decentralised renewable energy solutions, self-consumption projects and energy communities, while ensuring direct benefits for local residents affected by large-scale developments.

Government signals willingness to revise plan

In response, EMER 2030 has published a point-by-point rebuttal and appears to have accepted several of the municipalities’ concerns.

The mission structure pledges that the final version of the programme will provide earlier and clearer access to geographic information, and that the role of municipalities in assessing acceleration zones can be strengthened, ensuring compatibility with local master plans and monitoring implementation.

EMER also admitted that inclusion in a Renewable Energy Acceleration Zone does not automatically authorise project construction. Instead, zones should be viewed as strategic planning references that ‘remain subject to municipal assessment and planning controls’.

The body also committed to introducing greater flexibility, allowing local authorities to restrict or exclude sensitive areas where appropriate without undermining national renewable energy objectives, writes Público.

Minister: Success depends on municipal support

And here we have perhaps the best news, for communities desperate to head-off large-scale energy projects, “Environment and Energy Minister Maria da Graça Carvalho  admitted that without municipal backing the initiative could fail to achieve its objectives”.

The programme’s success – the Green Map – will ultimately depend on support from local authorities,, said the minister – conceding that “the opinion of municipalities generally reflects the opinion of the population.”

Public consultation on the Renewable Energy Acceleration Zones is now open, and runs for a month, with the government seeking input from municipalities, citizens, environmental organisations and renewable energy developers before finalising the programme.

Source: Público