Minutes after the dismissal of Pedro Fresco as Ecological Transition general manager was formalized at Consell’s plenary meeting, Vice President Aitana Mas justified the departure by assuring that Isaura Navarro’s department had conveyed the idea that Botànic wanted to accelerate. The push for renewable energies was framed as a top priority, with officials signaling a clear impatience to move projects forward. Yet Fresco has consistently argued for a faster pace, signaling a contrast between the government’s direction and his own speed of action.
Neither the PSPV nor the Presidency stepped into the dispute, saying the issue falls within the exclusive purview of regional Executive Consensus. The party sources, who claim to respect the government partners’ decision, declined to engage further, emphasizing only their commitment to advancing renewable energy. The PSPV has placed renewed importance on this policy in recent months, underscoring its central role in the party’s platform.
In this light, those backing Ximo Puig argue that a leadership change within Navarro’s department should not create additional hurdles. They see renewable policy as a cross-cutting matter that concerns the entire Consell, prioritizing governance acceleration over internal quarrels. On the horizon, 452 photovoltaic projects await a decision, and industry representatives say a response from the Environmental Declaration is expected by January 25.
The looming January deadline weighs on Palau. Puig has maintained a steady line on this front for months. Not only because the government has set a milestone just over 50 days away, a deadline whose failure could trigger further demands from developers, but also because the energy transition aligns with the European Union’s goals. It directly affects citizens through electricity costs and shapes the image of the Manager’s leadership. There is confidence that the timetable will be met, even if tensions persist.
To that end, the macro-decree approved in May stands as a reference point, and the PSPV rejected amendment requests from Compromís and Unides Podem through the Accompanying Act. While those aligned with the fist and the rose agreed to establish the Valencia Energy Agency, they resisted altering the conditions for approving photovoltaic projects. Their concern was that changing the decision-making authority of municipal bodies would complicate the targets set for January 25.
Speed in the Area
The regional Ministry of the Environment is also involved in renewable resources, with a focus on the Landscape sector. The ministry is led by Socialists, headed by Rebeca Torró, while the general administration sits with Rosa Pardo of Compromís. This sector has emerged as a major obstacle to installing photovoltaic plants because of its regional impact, provoking internal tensions within the department.
In fact, officials have turned to legal counsel to examine whether interpretations of various laws might hinder or accelerate renewable energy processes. The Generalitat’s legal services have questioned some of the obstacles raised by the Landscape unit, and a formal report has been requested with supporting documents. “There is no doubt that the Directorate-General for Landscape will implement what the lawyers advise,” Torró stated confidently.
Unides Podem has not weighed in heavily on the Ministry of Agriculture either, but its stance aligns more closely with Compromís than with the Socialists. In the Cortes, the coalition members shared several proposals focused on increasing local autonomy.
Meanwhile, Compromís has expressed concern that the discourse around renewables has shifted toward self-consumption, potentially leaving the broader goal of a Generalitat-driven energy transition at risk. They argue for more aggressive development of photovoltaic plants with government backing, cautioning that if ambitious plans are not processed, larger macro plants could gain approval with less stringent oversight. They emphasize the need for a balanced approach, ensuring smaller projects thrive while macro-scale initiatives are properly evaluated for environmental and regional impacts. These positions illustrate a broader negotiation between parties as the region seeks to meet ambitious energy targets.
Citations: Government communications and party statements provide context for the evolving stance on renewable energy timelines, regulatory interpretations, and local autonomy within the Valencia coalition.