Óscar Noda, a councillor for the Mixed Group at the Lanzarote Cabildo, has submitted a motion for the upcoming plenary meeting requesting that the undergrounding of electric lines in areas of high scenic value, such as Las Casitas, Femés, and Maciot, be declared of insular interest. He also seeks to ensure the allocation of the €18 million needed to execute the project in the budget for the Lanzarote Cabildo for the year 2026.

Preserving Lanzarote’s Landscape

Noda stated in a press release on Tuesday that this undergrounding initiative is part of the effort to “respect and conserve the landscape memory of our island. Our island must retain its beautiful singularities, maintaining its chief value, its landscape, without any alteration. Projects like the one from Red Eléctrica undermine these fundamental conservation principles.”

Strategic Project for the Island

“Some time ago, the possibility of burying a significant portion of these power lines was proposed to minimise economic impact. This is undoubtedly a strategic project that Lanzarote must not forfeit, as it would free the southern part of the island from the dreadful visual impact of pylons in sensitive areas, all while ensuring that electrical supply and the necessary infrastructure for its proper delivery are not jeopardised,” Noda added.

Coordinated Efforts for Implementation

“In conclusion,” explained Noda, “the Yaiza Town Hall has worked intensively and collaboratively with REDEIA to study technical and administrative formulas for the undergrounding of these lines between the communities of Las Casitas and Maciot. We hope that the €18 million promised by the Lanzarote Cabildo, both in the previous term and this one, will be delivered promptly. However, we observe that as time passes, the projected costs for the project rise, discouraging local residents who see an issue that should not require further debate, as it addresses a collective demand and the public commitments made by the last two Lanzarote Cabildo governments.”