Eolic energy and rural developmentan analysis for Galicia

Abstract

Public policies are directed towards promoting societies where less fossil fuel (European policies intend to increase the production of renewable energy. An example of this is guideline 2001/77/CE of the European Parliament and the Counsel regarding the promotion of power generated from sources of renewable energy within the electricity market) is consumed (at least per unit of produce) and where rural environment recovers socioeconomic activity (The Rural Development Program for Galicia 2007-2013 reflects the importance of this field nowadays.). Even though, eolic energy in Galicia set out fundamentally to improve environmental sustainability, its implementing implied other benefits to all of the economic activity revolving around it. Particularly, eolic energy constituted a good tool to strengthen the rural world where this activity was taking place. This paper, analyzes whether the expansion process of eolic energy in Galicia contributed directly to strengthening rural environment. When it comes to methodology, the authors use a mix between statistical analysis and participative research techniques. The study of the Galician Regulatory Framework for the promotion of Eolic Energy (between 1995 and 2011) and the process of the purchasing rights and duties taken on by landowners and eolic developers or promoters provide us with the key to understanding the results herewith obtained. The principal conclusion of this work is that eolic energy provided the Galician region with the chance to strengthen its rural world economically and socially. Yet the way it designed and, legislated its regulatory framework relegated communities into second place and, in so doing, did away with all chance for improvement.