The Ministry of Sustainable Development of the Government of Castilla-La Mancha has opened the Strategic Environmental Assessment process for the Regional Biomethane Plan to the public. This document will serve as a guide for promoting the orderly implementation of new plants in the region.
- The deadline for submitting objections or suggestions is August 18th through the Board's electronic registry.
According to Tomás Villarrubia , Director General of Environmental Quality, the Plan is conceived as an energy planning tool, which will also serve as an instrument for land-use planning and environmental management. The Regional Government is calling on all affected sectors—from municipalities, agricultural organizations, and businesses to neighborhood associations, environmental groups, and the general public—to actively participate in defining the plan and thus ensure that decisions align with the public interest and respect the local context.
Its main purpose is to clearly and rigorously regulate the implementation of new biomethane plants, taking into account criteria such as the location, size, origin, and traceability of the waste used, as well as respect for the natural and social environment.
The development of infrastructure for the recovery of organic waste and agri-food byproducts through anaerobic digestion to produce biomethane in Castile and León will contribute to the decarbonization of transport and industrial sectors.
Castilla-La Mancha has enormous potential for biomethane production thanks to its strong agricultural and agri-food sectors. Clearly regulating the location of plants and encouraging citizen participation from the outset are essential steps to ensure orderly, transparent, and beneficial development for the entire region.
All documentation on the Plan and the environmental study can be found on the official website of the Regional Government of Castilla-La Mancha and at the provincial offices of the Ministry of Sustainable Development. Allegations and suggestions must be submitted through the electronic registry before August 18:
https://www.jccm.es/servicios/registro-electronico
Institutional strategies for the deployment of biomethane
This and other regulatory developments will be discussed in depth during the upcoming Renewable Gas Fair, to be held on October 1 and 2 in Valladolid, bringing together all the key stakeholders to accelerate the development of biomethane in Spain.
In the previous edition, Castilla-La Mancha shared its integrative vision to facilitate these projects, with special attention to the involvement of the primary sector and social dialogue from the initial stages.
Watch again the round table discussion on “The role of public administrations in the development of renewable gases in Spain” , held at the 2024 International Bioenergy Congress. Representatives from the main regional and national administrations with responsibilities in energy and the environment participated:
- Amparo Fresneda, Area Manager of the Department of Bioenergy and Waste at IDAE
- José Luis Cabo, Deputy Director General of Hydrocarbons and New Fuels at the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge.
- Manuel Larrasa, Secretary General of Energy of the Andalusian Regional Government.
- Manuel Argüelles, Director General of Energy and Mines of the Generalitat Valenciana.
- Laia Sarquella, Head of Bioenergy of ICAEN of the Generalitat of Catalonia.
- Alipio García, Director General of Energy Transition for the Castilla-La Mancha Regional Government.
- Jaime Fernández, head of the Environmental Prevention and Climate Change Service of the Regional Government of Castile and León.