Territorial equity, the technical and social feasibility of projects, and the future of a fairer and more sustainable energy model were the main topics at the second citizen discussion group held in Pujalt, Catalonia, on Saturday, October 26. This session brought together community members to address the impacts of renewable energy deployment in the area, featuring experts in the field who shared their insights and experiences with the public. The event, organized by Associació Ecoserveis Cultura Energètica and conducted as part of the EU-funded Tandem project, offered residents a space for reflection and dialogue.
Territorial Equity in Renewable Energy
The event featured a round-table discussion with experts, including talks by Jaume Moya from the Eudemon project –a project dedicated to resolving eco-social conflicts– and Marc Cadevall, Director of Energy Transition at the Association of Municipalities for Public Energy (AMEP). The speakers highlighted the territorial and social challenges posed by the energy transition in affected regions. They emphasized the need for a more equitable redistribution of the impacts and benefits of renewable energies among municipalities, as well as the challenge of achieving greater participation and direct returns for the local communities involved. The discussion also covered topics such as the goals of the Sectoral Territorial Plan for the Deployment of Renewable Energies in Catalonia (PLATER), the need for sustainable reindustrialization in the region, and the obstacles encountered during the project objection process, among others. The experts’ contributions generated great interest among the audience, who actively engaged with questions and comments, enriching the debate.
Weaving Connections and Exploring More Respectful Futures for Rural Areas
The session in Pujalt also served to present attendees the findings from the first discussion group and to show how their contributions have been highly valuable in analysing public perceptions of the impact of renewable energy projects within the framework of the Tandem research project. These findings have helped create a map of interrelations among various impact factors, allowing Tandem’s researchers to better understand system dynamics and to identify how certain political decisions could mitigate or amplify these impacts. This information has also been instrumental in establishing and exploring different future scenarios based on existing literature and the input from attendees. Each scenario discussed with attendees presents a different degree of sustainability, public participation, and regional balance in implementing renewable energy.
In essence, the sessions enabled deeper reflection through new activities and dynamics, facilitating an understanding of the diverse perspectives among involved social actors and identifying expectations for the future of the regions of La Segarra and L’Anoia.
The event concluded with a community paella, a relaxed moment to share experiences and opinions. This closing activity strengthened community bonds and fostered a sense of collectivity, which is essential for creating more participatory and equitable models for deploying renewable energy in the region.
Next Meeting and Future Goals
This second discussion group has paved the way for a third meeting, establishing a solid foundation of knowledge and exchange of ideas that will enable new proposals for the future. The reflections and scenarios discussed so far will be central to the upcoming session’s debate, helping to define strategies and actions aimed at a future where the deployment of renewable energy is more just and equitable in the region. To learn more about the Tandem project, visit their website: https://tandem-heu.eu/.
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Funded by the European Union. However, the views and opinions expressed are solely those of its authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Climate, Infrastructure, and Environment Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible.
