Provincial Assembly accelerates efficiency in 29 municipalities
The president of the Generalitat, Ximo Puig, reiterates that central government energy saving measures will be adopted in the Valencian Community. He emphasizes seeking an agreement with employers and unions rather than imposing actions, stressing that the aim is to address the crisis with a shared sense of responsibility. He plans to avoid conflict and pursue a path of consensus throughout the legislature, aligning with the government’s mandate under Pedro Sánchez’s administration, while criticizing Isabel Díaz Ayuso of Madrid for opposing the energy saving framework.
Among the planned measures is a target to cut Spain’s energy use by 7 percent in the coming months. The approach includes reducing air conditioning and heating in public buildings and turning off lights in unused spaces from 10 a.m. daily.
Puig notes that the Consell had already outlined a strategy to accelerate renewable energy deployment. He frames the national plan as complementary and aimed at both reducing consumption and boosting efficiency. He argues that the issue is ecological and necessary for controlling inflation.
During his visit to Xàbia on Wednesday, Puig stated that all facilities should be available, with the exception of hospitals and social centers. Other sites will need to meet criteria as they advance, while continuing to ease decent work practices. The national package will be reviewed through social dialogue with the Valencian Business Confederation and the unions CCOO PV and UGT-PV in the coming weeks. The goal is not coercive measures but actions taken with a shared awareness of the situation and a commitment to improving energy efficiency.
Sources from the Generalitat explained that some measures proposed by the Government are already in place. For instance, air conditioning temperatures in public buildings are controlled according to protocols used by the Ministry of Finance, and exterior lighting is turned off in non-critical areas, such as the administrative center of Valencia or the departments overseen by Arcadi España. Nevertheless, all these actions will be reviewed to ensure compliance with the Government’s Royal Decree.
Diputación de Alicante pushes efficiency across 29 towns
The Alicante Provincial Council is pushing ahead with energy savings in municipal areas. At the plenary session held this week, the council, led by Carlos Mazón, unanimously approved a call for assistance to execute Energy Conservation Plan projects. In total, 29 municipalities will benefit from a 1.6 million euro budget for this year. Projects include installing charging points for electric vehicles, adding photovoltaic panels for self-consumption, updating public lighting, and improving the thermal efficiency of municipal buildings.
The council also approved a framework agreement for the supply of renewable electricity managed by the Provincial Assembly Contract Center, with more favorable rates that should benefit provincial municipalities.
Overall, Diputación de Alicante has mobilized four million euros to support the province’s municipalities during the energy crisis. In addition to the 1.6 million euros, another 442,000 euros will help 36 city councils carry out energy sustainability work. Moreover, for the first time, two million euros will come from the Municipal Aid program to cover costs arising from the energy crisis in towns with populations under 10,000, a measure that could assist up to 104 municipalities in the province.
Cs seeks clarification from Climent before facing constraints
The Cs group in the Valencian Courts demanded that Economy Minister Rafael Climent be summoned to the Industry, Commerce, Tourism and New Technologies Commission. The aim is to explain the new Energy Conservation Plan and the measures the central government has imposed on businesses that the Consell will implement to support enterprises and various productive sectors in the Community.
Carlos Gracia, spokesperson for Cs Industries and Commerce, criticized the government’s handling of inflation and price increases as a consequence of what he described as negligence and planning gaps. He argued that small businesses would face higher costs and stressed the need for immediate, direct measures to avoid leaving anyone behind in the Valencian Council’s approach.