La Rioja approves a moratorium on renewable projects
Published on 28th Feb 2024
In La Rioja, a law has approved that suspends administrative procedures for renewable projects, which represents a moratorium on the approval of such projects in the region
The Plenary of the Parliament of La Rioja approved on 23 January 2024 the Law on temporary and urgent measures for the protection of the landscape of La Rioja (hereinafter, the "Law"). This Law declares the suspension of the administrative procedures for the recognition of public utility of electricity generation facilities and their evacuation infrastructures whose competence corresponds to the autonomous community in which the public information procedure has not been initiated.
The Law also establishes the suspension of all administrative procedures for the granting of authorisations for use and activities on undeveloped land relating to electricity generation facilities and their evacuation infrastructures.
In practice, the regulation approved by La Rioja implies a de facto moratorium on renewables, i.e. the temporary suspension of the issuance of the authorisations required by most renewable generation facilities and their evacuation infrastructures.
The moratorium will be in force until the approval of the Landscape Law of La Rioja and the Integrated Energy and Climate Plan of La Rioja.
It will be necessary to assess the practical results of this new regulation and its effects on projects located in La Rioja that do not yet have all the necessary permits and authorisations for their operation from the Autonomous Community or the municipalities.
Should you wish to know more about the new regulations and their possible implications, please do not hesitate to contact one of our experts listed below or your usual contact at Osborne Clarke. At Osborne Clarke we are committed to keeping abreast of the impacts that these new regulations may have on the sector and especially in the case of projects under development in La Rioja.
