Castilla-La Mancha municipalities gain decisive vote on biomethane plant projects

The citizen platform Stop Biometano Socuéllamos released a report based on 415 public consultations that showed more than 80 % of respondents reject the regional government's plan for large‑scale biomethane macro‑plants. The submissions, mostly from individuals in Ciudad Real, call for small, decentralized facilities, minimum distances of 5–25 km from urban centres, binding municipal vetoes and stricter environmental safeguards. The report has been forwarded to the regional, national and European authorities.

Following the controversy, the Castilla‑La Mancha parliament approved a amendment to the regional environmental law that obliges each municipal council to give an explicit expressed position on any biomethane plant proposed in its territory. A positive vote allows the procedure to continue, while a motivated negative decision halts the project. The reform passed with the Socialist group’s majority; the PP and Vox voted against it, arguing the decision should remain at the regional technical level.

The combined pressure from grassroots opposition and the new legislative provision reshapes how biomethane projects will be evaluated and potentially limits the rollout of large‑scale facilities across the region.