Territorial equity, the technical and social viability of projects, or the future of a fairer and more sustainable energy model have focused the second citizen discussion group held in Pujalt this Saturday, October 26. The population has hosted this second session to address the impacts of the implementation of renewable energies in the territory, and has done so with the participation of experts in the field who have made their experience available to citizens. The conference, organized by the Ecoserveis Cultura Energètica Association and developed in the context of the Tandem project funded by the European Union, has allowed to offer the citizens of the territory a space for reflection and dialogue.
Territorial equity of renewable energies
The event included a round table with experts, with presentations 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 the affected regions . They highlighted the need for a more equitable redistribution of the impacts and benefits of renewable energies between municipalities, as well as the challenge of achieving greater participation and direct returns for the affected local communities . They also addressed aspects such as the objectives of the Sectorial Territorial Plan for the Implementation of Renewable Energies of Catalonia (PLATER), the need for sustainable reindustrialization of the territory and the difficulties encountered in the process of submitting proposals for projects, among others. The experts’ intervention has generated great interest among the public, who have actively participated with questions and comments, enriching the debate.
Weaving bonds and exploring more respectful futures with rural areas
The session in Pujalt also served to present to the attendees the results obtained in the first discussion group and to show how their contributions have been of great value in the analysis of citizen perceptions on the impact of renewable energy projects within the framework of the Tandem project research. These results have helped to create a map of the interrelationships between the different impact factors, which has allowed Tandem researchers to understand the dynamics of the system and identify how certain political decisions can contribute to reducing or increasing impacts . This information has also served to establish and explore different future scenarios based on existing literature and on the contributions of the attendees. Each scenario discussed with the attendees presents a different degree of sustainability, citizen participation and territorial balance in the implementation of renewable energies.
In short, the sessions have allowed us to delve deeper into these reflections through new activities and dynamics, facilitating the understanding of the different positions among the social actors involved and the identification of expectations for the future of Segarra and Anoia.
The day closed with a popular paella, a time to share experiences and opinions in a relaxed manner. The closing allowed for strengthening community ties and fostering a sense of collectivity, so necessary for the creation of more participatory and equitable models of renewable energy deployment in the territory.
Next meeting and future goals
This second discussion group has paved the way for the holding of a third group, establishing a solid base of knowledge and exchange of ideas that will facilitate new proposals for the future. The reflections and scenarios discussed so far will be key to deepening the debate in the next session and to specifying strategies and actions for a future where the implementation of renewable energies is more fair and equitable in the territory . For more information about the Tandem project, visit the website: https://tandem-heu.eu/ .
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Funded by the European Union. However, the views and opinions expressed are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Executive Agency for Climate, Infrastructure and Environment. Neither the European Union nor the awarding authority can be held responsible.
