In 1892, the Menorcan Francesc F. Andreu promoted the first power plant in the Balearic Islands, Eléctrica Mahonesa. The first one in Mallorca was inaugurated in Alaró in 1901 through the initiative of the brothers Gaspar and Josep Perelló Pol, local soap and oil merchants. In 1902, electricity arrived in Manacor with the company Servera i Melis. And in 1903 it would be Palma's turn, thanks to the Compañía Mallorquina de Electricidad, which built a power plant near the Can Pere Antoni beach designed by the architect Gaspar Bennàssar. As pioneering infrastructures, there were also the hydroelectric power plants of Gorg Blau (1905) and La Costera (1908). In Ibiza, the first power plant dates back to 1907 and its architect was the businessman Abel Matutes Torres.

The remodeling of the Gesa building will be finished by the end of 2029 "if action is taken with diligence." This was explained this Friday by one of the architects responsible for the project, Antonio Cruz, during the presentation of the proposal at a press conference held in the vicinity of the building itself, with the presence of the mayor, Jaime Martínez, and other authorities. The project provides for minimal intervention and more green areas.

The Association for the Rehabilitation of Old Buildings (ARCA) has described as "unacceptable" this Wednesday the visual impact that, in its opinion, the winning project for the rehabilitation of the Gesa building and the Palma waterfront will cause. The entity considers that the proposal puts the integrity of a protected building at risk and asks the City Council to incorporate the observations made by the jury.

More than a hundred residents of Palma have joined this Saturday in a human chain to show their rejection of the construction of a car park and other municipal facilities on the plots adjacent to the old Gesa building. The protest, called by the association Parc Sí, took place in the same place where, according to residents' complaints, the City Council intends to build a "macrocar park" and new infrastructure.

MORE for Palma has denounced that the project promoted by the PP municipal government around the old Gesa building It is far removed from the "real needs" of the city and the Foners and Les Veles neighborhoods. The group denounces that this is not an operation designed to improve the quality of life of residents, but rather a project aimed at promoting tourism, with more buildings, less green space, and a strong emphasis on private vehicles.

The Palma City Council opened the application period this Wednesday for projects to convert the Gesa building into a cultural and administrative center, a transformation that includes an underground parking garage with a capacity for 700 vehicles. The estimated cost of the project is around 100 million euros, an amount that, according to Palma Mayor Jaime Martínez, the City Council "can easily afford." The projects submitted, with a deadline of April 1, 2026, must meet several conditions, such as the integration of the Municipal Institute of Art into the main building, space for a new public library and media center, and the provision of more accessible facilities for the municipal archives. Furthermore, the City Council intends to locate the headquarters of 'Palma Culture & Innovation Bay' in the main building, although it has left open the possibility of placing it in one of the other two buildings to be constructed. Jaime Martínez explained that the building's transformation is part of the project to remodel the seafront promenade, which runs from the Palau de Congressos to the Parc del Mar. The Gesa building renovation also includes other actions such as extending Joan Alcover Street underground to the seafront promenade, creating green spaces, outdoor parking, and a new underground parking garage. The mayor of Palma described the project as "transformative and innovative" and emphasized that it "is a symbol of what Palma should be in the future," also mentioning the city's bid to become European Capital of Culture in 2031.

A dense column of smoke has raised concerns among drivers and residents alike following a car fire located on the sidewalk of Avenida Gabriel Roca, in front of the Gesa building and heading towards Portitxol.