10 months after the explosion Cumbre Vieja volcano, Cumbre Vieja volcano, during his fifth visit to La Palma during the emergency, Félix Bolaños wanted to hold a meeting yesterday with the scientific community involved in the entire prevention, control and study process. process. The Scientific Committee went one step further and discussed the use of geothermal energy to turn La Palma into a sustainable island.
The purpose of the exploration you want to make “that this island is 100% renewable in terms of energy and 100% sustainable in energy generation”; Take advantage of the fact that “although the volcano is a tragedy for the island”.It could also become an opportunity, Bolaños stressed.
He stressed the importance of “sharing with scientists this commitment to science that has helped so much in controlling and understanding the volcanic eruption and should now help us a lot to make La Palma a world example”. In energy. He reminded that the central government has started to appoint a commissioner related to this sector to coordinate all projects in this regard.
In this regard, both the Government of the Canary Islands and the Cabildo of La Palma have agreed to invest 30 million euros in state funds for exploration and research work on the existing geothermal potential on the island, preferably to generate energy in their own region. in the south, in the municipality of Fuencaliente.
This item derives from the special €90 million for developing geothermal energy in the Canary Islands and specifically for exploration and research work on the islands of Tenerife, Gran Canaria and La Palma, of which 30 million each.
This meeting with the scientific community for the reconstruction of La Palma was held at Roque de los Muchachos, which also allowed the minister to visit the Great Canary Telescope.
Bolaños’ agenda continues today with a meeting with the Government of the Canary Islands regarding the status of planning for the reconstruction of La Palma. The table includes the need to change land use planning tools to respond to housing needs and economic activities.
He will then co-chair the Joint Commission, which includes Ángel Víctor Torres, President of the Government of the Canary Islands, Mariano Hernández Zapata, President of the Cabildo, and the mayors of the three affected municipalities – El Paso, Valle. de Aridane and Tazacorte also agree.
In the Mixed Commission, the problem with gas build-up in the coastal areas of the Valley will be the main character, where there is definite reversal even though conditions allow a certain clearance for neighbors to access their homes. and, above all, the economic revitalization of La Palma’s tourist lung.
In addition, depending on this planning, the request for the commission allocated to housing to be reactivated and the payment of the bills faced by the municipalities to solve the basic needs interventions by the State will be discussed at the Joint Commission.
Special assistance is also on the table for those who have lost some of their lifestyles associated with the tourism industry. Villas and holiday homes, which are complementary to the family economy, have been excluded from all proposed benefits to date, as they are dependent on individuals.