Italian government fights Sardinia law pausing new wind and solar farms
New renewable energy projects on Mediterranean’s second-largest island have been paused in coastal areas and in national parks
The Italian government is challenging a law passed in Sardinia that has temporarily frozen new wind and solar farms due to concerns the island is being “trampled on”.
Italy’s cabinet office announced on Wednesday that it has launched a constitutional court challenge against the law passed by the Sardinian regional government last month.
That law paused new renewables installations in certain areas – including national parks and reserves, coastal regions and areas of historic interest, among many others – for up to 18 months.
The Sardinian government said the law would protect its landscape and environment while it decides on areas suitable for hosting wind and solar farms.
The law ensures that Sardinia can decide its own “energy destiny,” its government said last month, and that there will be no more authorisations that “pass over our heads.”
The government said it could “no longer allow for our territory to be trampled on.”
In its response yesterday, the Italian national government said that certain provisions of the law exceeded the statutory powers of the local government, conflicting with state and European legislation.
Italy wants to get 70% of its electricity from renewables by 2030.
Climate think thank Ember says Italy’s largest clean energy source last year was hydro, which met 14% of its electricity demand. Wind and solar combined to meet another 21%.
The government has however changed since then, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party winning power in 2022.
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