The problem regarding the implementation of renewable energies has marked the end of the legislature and will most likely condition the start of the next mandate in the Valencian territory with many projects to be finalized and administrative and political procedures still to be overcome. The increase in the price of energy derived from the Russian invasion of Ukraine (more than climate awareness) has redoubled the commitment of the Executive of Ximo Puig and the interest of many companies to build large photovoltaic plants and wind farms within the Community Valencian.
However, the way to face this energy transition has divided the Valencian Government and has generated tensions between its partners and even dismissals and resignations. In addition, some megaprojects such as the Magda solar panel park, endorsed in the interior of Castellón by the Ministry of Ecological Transition (against the criteria of the regional Executive), has generated the rejection of all the parties of the parliamentary arch, except Vox, which He preferred not to comment.
These issues have generated much debate within the Valencian Parliament and within the executive branch itself and have introduced new elements of partisan confrontation in the face of the municipal and regional elections, which will be held in less than 100 days. However, the big question is, will these issues affect the vote on the next 28M? Is there a green voter who can reward the commitment of the parties in environmental matters?
The question does not have an easy answer since, in the surveys, the environmental variable does not appear as one of the reasons for deciding the vote. However, in survey studies we can see that concern for this problem is growing among citizens. Likewise, the crossing of the data makes it possible to ensure that not all voters are equally sensitive to phenomena such as climate change nor are they willing to make sacrifices in the first person to mitigate its effects.
As a basis, it can be established that for 9.1% (almost one in 10 voters) the protection of the environment should be one of the most important problems for the Valencian Executive, according to the CIS that was carried out after the regional 2019.
In this line, the 2021 Generalitat barometer, in a question referring to the three priorities to advance in the ecological transition, establishes that the priority for 79.2% should be to promote the use of renewable energies. Recycling (63.3%) and increasing the fight against climate change (55.8%) are still far from reaching those percentages.
The Consell’s sociological study also asked about reducing pollution and applying measures against climate change. 47.9% asked to pay “maximum attention” to this issue, although the percentage varied between voters of one party and another. Those who confessed to being Compromís voters were the ones who most demanded this “maximum attention” (59.5%), closely followed by those of Podem-EU (55.5%) and, at a further distance, by those of the PSOE (49 ,5%).
This different environmental sensitivity is also seen in state surveys. When the CIS of September 2022 asked to what degree a citizen would agree that public administrations promote the generation of renewable energies, to ensure that most of the electricity consumed in Spain comes from these sources in 2030, 70% stated that they were “strongly in agreement”. However, while in the PSOE the percentage rose to 79.3%, in the PP it remained at 58.7% and in Vox it dropped to 50%. 80.5% of UP voters “strongly agreed” with that statement and 84.3% of Compromís voters as well.
When talking about placing specific taxes on the most polluting and greenhouse gas emitting activities, support was reduced. All in all, 65.5% of PSOE voters were “strongly in agreement”; by only 36.9% of those of the PP. Total support for these taxes was around 70% in UP and Compromís.
Likewise, when asked if they would be willing to do more for the environment, even if this entails higher costs for consumers, 81.7% of PSOE voters answered in the affirmative, although not as much as those of UP ( 89.4%) or those of Compromís (92.9%).
This study also descends to specific measures that put voters in a bind, since they make them face issues that would affect them in their day-to-day lives, which causes support to decrease. Only 52.8% of PSOE voters and 60% of UP and Compromís voters strongly agree with the possibility of restricting the circulation of polluting vehicles in city centers.
All this in a context in which, as another previous study pointed out (Survey on current affairs of April 2022), 89% admitted that “at this moment we are witnessing climate change”. Of this percentage, half this “worried a lot.” Some figures that leave climate change deniers who, above all, are concentrated in the vicinity of Vox in a residual role.
This being the case, it seems that the environmental debate has carved a niche for itself in the busy political agenda. A problem that, as expected, generates more concern on the left wing of the electorate. The difficulty is that it is still difficult to gauge what effects it may have on the vote, and even more so when two necessary issues for the ecological transition are put in the balance, such as the implementation of renewable energies and the protection of natural spaces. A dilemma that is currently dividing the Valencian left.
A good way to calibrate the balance will be the municipal elections in the towns affected by the controversial Magda project, the one that has provoked the most social and institutional response. The installation affects municipalities of Plana Alta and Baix Maestrat. In the first of the regions, the Socialists were the force with the most votes with 33.62% of the votes, although the Populares achieved one more councilor (71). Both Ciudadanos and Compromís remained at 12% of the support. In the 2019 local elections, in Baix Maestrat, the bipartisanship achieved even better results: PSOE (39.96%) and PP (31.94%) added 72% of the votes; Compromís was left with 7.61%.
It remains to be seen if the project, approved by the Ministry of Ecological Transition led by the socialist minister Teresa Ribera, creates a problem for the many socialist mayors in the area and is ammunition for the PP and even Compromís, which has made its opposition to the Magda a workhorse.
