The Region makes it clear: no delay will be allowed for the Municipalities for the presentation of the SECAP, the Action Plan for sustainable energy and the climate. In a circular from the regional energy department, addressed to all the municipalities of the island, signed by the general manager Calogero Giuseppe Burgio and the manager of Service 1, Vincenzo Cusimano, it was clarified how the PAESC acquire their resources from the Sicily Pacs 2007/2013, and that the deadline for the use of these sums has been set at December 2024. This deadline, therefore, “must be taken into due consideration for the definition of all obligations relating to the closure of said projects”.
The circular was necessary because, although numerous communications were forwarded over time to the project managers and energy managers in charge, not all municipalities complied promptly.
Sustainable energy in Sicily, work needs to be accelerated
It is therefore necessary “to move towards the acceleration – we read again in the circular – of all the operations necessary for the definition of the SECAP programme, making use of the indispensable collaboration of these Municipalities, which will have to ensure the immediate commitment to define all the procedures on their own due”.
In the event that the SECAPs have been drawn up, the uploading operations of the same plans on the “Covenant of mayors” platform of the JRC (Joint Research Center) of the European Commission must be defined. In this phase, the Municipalities are divided into three groups: the first, those who have not yet received acceptance of the PAESC by the JRC, if they fall within the category of the so-called “non-representative” Municipalities, will have to communicate the method of their forwarding official to the regional Energy Department via certified email. The second group includes the Municipalities that have already received the communication of acceptance of the PAESC from the JRC.
Sustainable energy in Sicily, a differentiated procedure based on the status of the practices
These will have to send the department the request for the final balance of the contribution and demonstrate that they have fulfilled the obligations concerning the uploading of the regional Paesc platform. Furthermore, these Municipalities must have implemented the Caronte 3 platform, with all the data relating to the project, which must be perfectly aligned.
Lastly, the Municipalities that received the notice of negative conclusion of the proceedings. These will have to send the necessary documentation for the disbursement of the advance in a very short time. On December 31st, without the need for further communication, the procedure aimed at forfeiting the granted contribution will begin.
Sustainable energy in Sicily, funds to fight climate change
The SECAPs arise from the European Union’s desire to systematically combat climate change, committing itself to reducing its total CO2 emissions by 2030, with the aim of achieving climate neutrality in 2050. In this direction, in 2008 it was the Covenant of Mayors was established, with the aim of activating and supporting local administrations in the adoption of local policies consistent with national and supranational objectives, encouraging the exchange of experiences and the constant monitoring of local needs.
The members of the Pact undertake to develop a SECAP that complies with the guidelines established by the Joint Research Center of the European Commission. In particular, information is provided on the drafting of the Plan with reference to the compilation of the basic emissions inventory (Ibe). The IBE contains an estimate of the CO2 emissions present in the municipal territory and for this reason represents the prerequisite for compiling a PAESC.
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