Local Trends - European Local Government Forum was held on October 14-15 at the Poznań Congress Center. The event is a platform for the exchange of ideas, dedicated to strengthening the voice of local governments in the debate on Poland's socio-economic development. The event was also attended by representatives of Sevivon, who actively participated in discussions on the development of renewable energy sources (RES). Experts from Sevivon presented solutions to support the energy transition and the benefits of RES development for local communities and economies.
The “Five for RES” initiative aroused great interest among local government officials at the gathering in Poznań. In the debate, Dr. Magdalena Klera-Nowopolska of Sevivon PNE, pointed out that wind farms and photovoltaic installations can be “levers” for new investments in municipalities. She stressed that RES development not only brings image benefits, building a positive, pro-investment image of local communities, but also supports local budgets, providing operating surpluses. This allows local governments to invest in infrastructure or allocate funds to co-finance future projects.
She also praised the ambitions outlined in the new version of the National Energy and Climate Plan (NERP). She stressed that the increasing targets for the share of RES in gross final energy consumption send a strong signal that the country will support the energy transition. However, to meet these targets, further regulations are needed to facilitate and accelerate the construction of new renewables. In particular, there is talk of changes for wind investments and the implementation of the requirements of the RED III directive, which aims to simplify and shorten the permitting process.
During the debate, the “Five for RES” initiative aroused great interest among participants. It is a set of demands that can not only reduce regulatory barriers, but also promote the unification of good practices in the RES area. Magdalena Klera-Nowopolska pointed out that not all the necessary changes require statutory reforms - some of them can be implemented more quickly, through the development and promotion of effective practices.
This year's event was opened by former President Aleksander Kwasniewski, who recalled that self-government was the foundation of democracy in Poland, and that accession to the European Union two decades ago brought the developmental impetus necessary for the entire country.