Wind power, blitz decree ready for acceleration

State impositions

A real "coup" with an eloquent title: «Consolidated law on administrative regimes for the production of energy from renewable sources». The heart of the provision is all in article three, a bulldozer rule, capable of wiping away all resistance, from environmental ones, understood in the noblest meaning, to archaeological ones. An article that seems to have been written by the hand of a lobbyist on a mission to the palaces of Rome, a rule that in other times would have startled anyone with a specific accusation: private interests in official acts.

Fake public interest

The title of the law already tells the story of the "farce": "Prevailing public interest". It is not clear what the public interest is, but it is certainly understood that private business and energy speculation come first. This is not a simplistic translation, but exactly what was foreseen in the law already examined by ministerial leaders. They write: «When weighing interests, priority is given to the interventions referred to in Article 1, paragraph 1, in accordance with the principle of the prevailing public interest in the diffusion of energy from renewable sources pursuant to Directive 2018/2001/ EU, of the European Parliament and of the Council, of 11 December 2018" .

Abuse

In regulating the law they use exemplary clarity: absolute "priority" for the construction or operation of production plants and energy storage systems from renewable sources, for interventions to modify, strengthen, totally or partially remake the same plants, as well as for the related works and infrastructures indispensable for the construction and operation of the same plants" . A provision that allows us to clearly understand the effect: protection of the landscape, landscape restrictions or anything else that falls within the competing competences will have to give way to this "sweeper" rule, leaving the only priority standing: energy speculation even cloaked in favors of the "public interest".

“Psalm” of State

The state offices don't even lack the occasional phrases, almost a recommendation: we make you do everything, but do it conscientiously. The State "psalm" is shameless: " Economic operators guarantee maximum diligence regarding the state of science and technology in the construction and management of plants and the energy produced, the transparency of information and loyal cooperation for the purposes of the necessary checks ".

Deregulation

The text of the Legislative Decree, which has reached its final stages, provides for three authorization "regimes": "free activity, simplified authorization procedure and single authorisation". The "free" activity, without any authorization, includes photovoltaic systems from 1 to 10 megawatts and revamping interventions of no small importance also for wind power; the "simplified procedure", however, includes, among others, "systems photovoltaic and agrivoltaic systems installed on the ground located in industrial, artisanal and commercial areas, as well as in landfills or closed and restored landfill lots or in quarries or lots or portions of quarries not susceptible to further exploitation ". In this case, for most of the "simplified" interventions, silent consent is triggered: « If the proposing party is not notified of an express denial provision within twenty days of the presentation of the project, the qualification is considered acquired without any requirements ».

The coup

Finally, the rule regarding large projects: up to 300 megawatts are the responsibility of the Region, higher than the State. The deadlines in this case are rapid: from five days to thirty. At the end of the day, the times will have to respect the State imposition: « The deadline for concluding the conference is one hundred and twenty days starting from the date of the calling of the Services Conference ». In practice, the vast majority of projects presented in Sardinia appear to have already exceeded those deadlines. When the "pseudo" "suitable areas" arrive, they could all already be approved. Speculators are preparing to toast, on Sardinian land.