Following the power outage on April 28, Vox reignited the debate about the relevance of investing in nuclear energy. In this context, the party presented a non-legal proposal (PNL) to the Cortes de Aragón for the construction of a nuclear power plant in the region, emphasizing its suitability. “Aragon, due to its geographical and demographic characteristics, is an ideal location for the construction of a new nuclear power plant,” the PNL stated, which they will debate in plenary next Thursday, May 15.
Vox presented this initiative last September, but it has not been discussed so far. The party argues that a nuclear power plant in the Aragonese region “would diversify the regional energy matrix and provide a stable and efficient complement to existing renewable energies.” Furthermore, the proposal would “contribute to the stability of the energy supply and position Aragon as a key player in national energy policy by creating skilled jobs and promoting technological innovation in the sector.”
The party, led by Alejandro Nolasco, has taken advantage of the current political context, in which a debate about the energy model is taking place, to reactivate the PNL and finally bring it up for discussion. In its text, it compares nuclear power plants with wind and photovoltaic plants, emphasizing that the former “ensure stable and continuous production, which is essential to guaranteeing energy supplies in Spain.” In contrast, the latter would cause “environmental and landscape problems due to the large amount of land required and their impact on local ecosystems,” as well as “provoke interruptions due to their dependence on climatic conditions, which makes a continuous and stable electricity supply difficult.”
“From an environmental perspective, while not without controversy, nuclear energy emits a minimal amount of greenhouse gases compared to fossil fuels,” explains Vox, adding: “Current nuclear technologies and advances in waste management make it possible to mitigate some of the risks historically associated with this form of energy production.”
Finally, the PNL emphasizes that “Aragon has experienced disproportionate growth in renewable energy installations in recent years, particularly in photovoltaic and wind power. However, the disruption of these energy sources and their increasing impact on the environment and the landscape have raised concerns among industry and citizens, who see nuclear energy as a more efficient and consistent alternative.” Therefore, “the construction of a new nuclear power plant in Aragon is proposed to diversify the energy matrix, improve security of supply, and secure the energy future of the region and Spain.”
For these reasons, Vox calls on the regional government “to rethink the current model for implementing renewable energy in Aragon, assess its impact on the environment, the landscape, and the primary sector, and promote a broad, participatory debate on the real needs in terms of electricity supply and economic sustainability.”
The text also contains two requests to the government. Firstly, it calls for “extending the lifespan of the nuclear power plants currently operating in Spain” and, secondly, for “examining the feasibility and construction of a new nuclear power plant in Aragon as part of a national strategy for diversifying energy supplies, ensuring the stability of electricity generation in the face of fluctuating sources and minimizing the environmental impact of other renewable technologies such as photovoltaics and wind power.”
PP, Vox and Nuclear Power Plants
The PP and Vox have been committed to promoting nuclear energy for years, but the recent power outage has intensified their efforts in this area. On Wednesday, PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo defended the extension of the service life of nuclear power plants in the Chamber of Deputies on grounds of the “national interest” and to ensure “energy security.”
The National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC) envisions the closure of the nuclear power plants (Almaraz I and II, Ascó I and II, Cofrentes, Trillo, and Vandellós II) between 2027 and 2028. According to experts, this could jeopardize the stability of the electricity supply, increase dependence on fossil fuels, and reduce the competitiveness of the national energy sector. Furthermore, the risk of blackouts will increase significantly in 2028, as the two reactors of the Almaraz nuclear power plant will be the first to be shut down between 2027 and 2028.
