At the 2026 Association of Municipal Corporations in Local Authorities conference, held this week, CEO of the Haifa Economic Company, Hanan Markowitz, in the main energy panel under the title: “Will someone stop the flow? Is the State of Israel prepared for the energy challenges ahead?”Markowitz presented a firm position that the energy sector in Israel suffers from over-concentration and an inability to provide a real response to the challenges of emergencies, congestion, and urban growth.
“An energy economy that is too centralized – and that means harming national resilience”
In the panel, moderated by News 12 reporter Keren Marciano, and with the participation of Hadera Mayor Nir Ben Haim, Tamar Council Chairman Nir Wenger, former Interior Minister Ofir Pines-Paz, and Lottery Agency Deputy Director Irit Ben Menachem, Markowitz emphasized that Israel cannot continue to rely on a centralized energy model.
According to him, “The State of Israel suffers from a structural problem in its energy economy: it is too centralized, vulnerable, and not adequately prepared for the challenges of congestion, emergencies, and economic growth of the coming years. If the state wants strong authorities, functioning cities, and true resilience in emergencies, it must transfer more executive power to the field: to municipalities and municipal corporations.”
Haifa establishes municipal energy arm: “Critical infrastructure for urban and security resilience”
Markowitz presented the move being led by the Haifa Economic Company: establishing a dedicated energy arm within the company, without establishing a new corporation, in order to avoid unnecessary bureaucracy and rely on existing capabilities.
“We chose not to establish a new corporation so as not to create another layer of bureaucracy, but to use the existing execution capabilities, assets, and experience of the economic company to move forward quickly, efficiently, and responsibly,” he said.
The move includes transforming public buildings and municipal assets into “local energy anchors” through:
- מערכות סולאריות
- energy storage
- Demand management
- Examination of complementary production facilities
The goal, he said, is not only to save money but also to ensure functional continuity in routine and emergency situations: “Lighted shelters, functioning public buildings, and municipal services that can continue to operate even in overload or overload scenarios.”
Call for Regulatory Change: “Supervision – Yes. Paralysis – No”
Markowitz called on the government to make regulatory adjustments that will allow municipal corporations to operate flexibly and efficiently: “I fully understand the need for oversight, transparency, and prevention of improper use of public resources. But oversight must not become paralysis.”
According to him, only a genuine transfer of powers to local government will allow Israel to face the energy challenges of the coming decade.
Preparation for Integration A microreactor is a nuclear fission facility that typically produces up to
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Neighborhood electricity supply. Under American development, will be put into use within 5 years.