Izquierda Unida will present a motion in the Antequera city council on Monday calling for stricter environmental controls on large biogas and biomethane facilities. The party cites growing public concern and the need to protect health and the landscape.
The municipal group of Izquierda Unida in Antequera will present a motion on Monday requiring the city council to commission independent studies on the health and environmental impact of any proposed biogas or biomethane plant with a capacity exceeding a certain threshold. The party argues that while such facilities contribute to the energy transition, their rapid proliferation in Andalusia has outpaced regulatory oversight.
The initiative comes amid a surge of biogas projects across the region, with several proposed in the Antequera area. According to Izquierda Unida, residents and environmental groups have expressed unease about potential effects on air quality, odor emissions, heavy truck traffic, and the cumulative impact of multiple installations in a small radius. The party insists that local authorities must act proactively to prevent irreversible damage to the municipality's rural character and tourism potential.
Among the specific proposals, the motion calls on the Junta de Andalucía to establish clear location criteria, including minimum distances from residential zones, protected natural spaces, schools, healthcare facilities, and sensitive agricultural operations.
'Clear location criteria must be established to guarantee the protection of public health and the natural environment,' the text states.The party also demands that before any new large-scale plant is authorized, independent studies on health, air quality, odors, traffic, and cumulative effects be made mandatory.
Additionally, Izquierda Unida proposes that the Antequera city council conduct a technical study on the carrying capacity of the municipality for such installations. This study would analyze water resource availability, the combined impact of all projects, and compatibility with existing agricultural, tourism, and environmental land uses. The motion also commits to defending natural spaces, landscape heritage, and water resources, urging the Junta to tighten protection for ecologically valuable areas to prevent future projects from harming them.
Similar concerns have emerged in other Spanish municipalities, reflecting a broader tension between renewable energy expansion and local resistance. In 2023, residents in the province of Jaén opposed a biogas plant near olive groves, citing odor and noise pollution. Antequera's motion follows this pattern, highlighting the need for specific siting regulations that are often absent in Spanish law. While the national government promotes biogas as a key component of its energy strategy, local communities increasingly demand a say in where these facilities are placed.
The motion will be debated in the plenary session scheduled for Monday at 10:00 a.m. at the Antequera town hall. If approved, the city council will formally ask the Junta de Andalucía to draft the new regulations. Izquierda Unida has urged all political groups to support the measure, arguing that renewable energy development must go hand in hand with environmental protection and public participation.
You may also like
