Portugal's Green Map for Renewable Energy Faces Municipal Backlash

The Portuguese Association of Municipalities (ANMP) issued a hostile opinion on the government’s proposal to create Renewable Energy Acceleration Zones (ZAER). It argues the new rules would shift licensing power from local councils to the central state, eroding municipalities’ strategic, territorial and urban‑planning competence. The association wrote, “A concretização das ZAER exige uma lógica de governação multinível, na qual os municípios assumam um papel efetivo, estruturante e não meramente acessório…”.

The government responded by opening a public consultation for the “Mapa Verde” on 17 June. The map identifies 664,000 hectares – over 7 % of mainland Portugal and an area roughly twice the size of Greater Lisbon – as preferred sites for solar and wind projects. It is intended to simplify and accelerate licences, give investors predictability and integrate environmental, territorial and community criteria early in the process. Environment and Energy Minister Maria da Graça Carvalho said, “O Mapa Verde constitui um instrumento essencial para acelerar a transição energética.”