Capital Energy reaffirms its commitment to Asturias and signs three new Territories Project initiatives with Illano City Council

Parties also sign agreements to boost local employment during construction of the wind farms.

• During the construction and operating and maintenance phases of Leo, Campón and Cassiopea, company and local government will implement various actions that can be pivoted to the needs of each municipality
• Initiative combines renewable group’s contribution to decarbonising the economy and transforming the energy model with its desire to promote regional growth through local talent and by promoting social, industrial and business networks
•  Facilities will provide 60,000 Asturian households with clean electricity per year, prevent the emission of 56,000 tonnes of CO₂, provide stable employment for nine local workers during operating phase and have an annual economic impact on local coffers of more than €160,000

Oviedo, 25 September 2022.- Capital Energy, a Spanish energy company established two decades ago that seeks to become the first vertically-integrated 100% renewable energy operator in the Iberian peninsula, is once again highlighting its commitment to the socioeconomic development of Asturias, an essential region for the strengthening of its clean energy project.

The company has signed three new collaboration agreements in the region linked to its Territories Project that combines its contribution to decarbonising the economy and transforming the energy model with its desire to promote the growth of the different regions by leveraging local talent and bolstering the social, industrial and business network of each area.

With these agreements, Capital Energy undertakes to tap the construction of the Leo, Campón and Cassiopea wind farms -which have the relevant environmental and urban planning permits- to promote different actions agreed between the parties that will be pivoted to the needs of the municipality. They will be part of specific lines of action, including the improvement of infrastructures and services, connectivity and digitisation; the protection of artistic and cultural heritage, education and health; and the social and labour integration of disadvantaged groups.

Some proposals beneficial to the inhabitants of Illano are already being considered, such as the restoration of Casa de las Cebollas, the construction of a day centre, the improvement of communications between Pastur and El Pato and the rehabilitation of part of the municipal pavement.

The partnership will continue throughout the operating and maintenance phase of this renewable infrastructure with the rollout of actions that meet the above requirements. Through this agreement, both parties reaffirm their interest in contributing to the town's sustainable development through actions that ensure the effective improvement of its inhabitants’ quality of life and the environment.

Leo, Campón and Cassiopea to bolster local employment

Capital Energy and Illano Council have signed three additional agreements to encourage the hiring of local workers in the construction and operation of the renewable facilities.

Within the framework of these agreements, the Council will leverage the relevant municipal channels of communication to promote the job offers linked to the works and subsequent maintenance of the infrastructures. It will also establish the necessary mechanisms to ensure that interested parties have a simple way to submit applications. To this end, it plans to establish a telematic system for locals to upload their CVs in an agile and intuitive manner. It will also ensure that applications match the profiles required by the company.

For its part, Capital Energy will provide the Council, within the stipulated deadlines, with full information on the posts to be filled. In addition, the group, which will ultimately determine both the recruitment and the relationship established with the employees selected by the local authority, will report data, at the frequency established by the two parties, on the new staff taken on in order to assess the efficiency and impact of the measures and resources. Finally, the two undertake to safeguard the principles of equality and nondiscrimination throughout the process.

Leo, Campón and Cassiopea will have a capacity of more than 55 megawatts (MW) and be able to supply the consumption of almost 60,000 Asturian households per year, thanks to the production of more than 150,000 megawatt hours (MWh). They will also prevent the emission of some 56,000 tonnes of CO₂ a year.

The construction of these wind farms will lead to the creation of over 340 direct jobs in peak construction periods and involve an investment of almost €50 million. In the operating and maintenance phase they will provide stable employment to nine local workers and generate approximately seven indirect jobs.

Every year during their useful life, Leo, Campón and Cassiopea will have a tax impact of around €90,000 on the local coffers, which will also receive the one-off payment of the ICIO tax on building, installations and other works and other taxes of around €2 million.