A mayor in Andalucia has vowed to fight a biogas plant planned for her town amid mounting backlash.
Maria Jesus Serrano, leader of Baena town hall in Cordoba, said she will submit a series of legal and technical objections as part of the project’s environmental approval process.
Serrano said the facility has not yet been approved and stressed that the key environmental decision currently rests with the Junta de Andalucia rather than the local council.
Speaking to residents, the mayor sought to reassure the community that no municipal building licence or operating permit has been granted for the project and that the proposal remains under review.
She said protecting residents’ health, the local environment and the future of the town would remain the council’s top priorities.
The planned biogas facility is currently undergoing assessment by the regional government, which must decide whether to grant the project its Integrated Environmental Authorisation.
Until that process is completed, the town hall has suspended its own urban planning procedures related to the development.
Serrano said council technicians and legal advisers had carried out a detailed review of the project’s environmental documentation and would now submit a package of formal objections.
What are the concerns?
Among the concerns raised are the potential impact of odours, increased heavy vehicle traffic, waste management issues, the chosen location of the facility and its possible effects on the surrounding landscape and environment.
The mayor also warned that even if the Junta ultimately approves the environmental permit, the town hall still retains planning powers and will not make any decisions without further technical reports, legal guarantees and consultation with local residents.
The announcement comes amid growing debate in rural areas across Spain over the expansion of renewable energy and waste-treatment projects, many of which have faced opposition from residents concerned about environmental and quality-of-life impacts.
In addition to challenging the biogas proposal, the Baena council has announced plans to draft a new regulatory framework governing renewable energy developments on rural land.
According to Serrano, the aim is to create clear rules on where such projects can be located, while providing legal certainty for both residents and developers.
She said the plan would include a public consultation process involving local residents, farming organisations, environmental groups and businesses.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
