by Andrea Tramonte
A comparison that is still – necessarily – interlocutory but which shows some progress: at least a “bringing of the respective positions closer”. Alessandra Todde today he met with the Minister of the Environment, Gilberto Pichetto Fratinaccompanied by the Councilor for Industry, Emanuele Cani, and their respective heads of cabinet, Luca Caschili and Cesare Moriconi. The theme was energy and in particular the question of speculation on renewables in Sardinia, in the absence of a map of suitable areas which led the Council to approve a bill – which will soon arrive in the Regional Council – with an 18-month stop to new plants while waiting to define the areas where they can be installed, respecting the environment and the Sardinian landscape. According to data reported by the ecological association Legal intervention group, the requests for concession of new plants – as of 31 March 2024 – are 809 equal to 57.67 Gw of power: 524 of energy production from solar sources, 254 from onshore wind sources, 31 from offshore wind sources. All equivalent to approximately 30 times the plants currently existing in Sardinia.
The President of the Region speaks of “fruitful meeting“. “We discussed issues that concern the entire energy context of Sardinia – he explains -, starting from the map of suitable areas”. Compared to the beginning, Todde sees a rapprochement of positions and announces that there will be a meeting with the other Regions to “define a summary to be presented to the minister”. Also on the table is “the overcoming of coal power plants and the methanization of Sardinia”, for which the minister said he was willing to convene a table as soon as possible. “We also brought the reasons for our law decree – says Todde – to safeguard the environment and landscape of Sardinia. I must say that the minister has shown understanding: in the absence of rules the island is objectively more exposed than other regions”.
The Council’s bill – “Urgent measures for the protection of the landscape, landscape and environmental assets” – provides for a suspension for 18 months, “necessary to ensure that the development and construction of new electricity production plants from renewables takes place in a context of protection and protection of the environment and the landscape”, declared Todde. “We need to quickly converge towards a shared solution not only because there are deadlines Pnrr, but above all because this process has been going on for two and a half years – he said today -. For us it is essential that the Regions are involved especially when discussing issues relating to urban planning, landscape and correct energy development”. Todde will propose to the other Regions to change the ways in which they will be released permissions: “The ministry’s guidelines will be used, leaving the Regions the possibility of managing their territory”.
The issue is mobilizing the Sardinian political class. The PD in support of the Council’s initiative he had presented a motion in the Council to also propose a mobilization in Rome to raise awareness among the Government on the issue. As a progressive congresswoman Francesca Ghirra a week ago he instead presented a parliamentary question on the failure to adopt ministerial decrees for the identification of surfaces and areas suitable and unsuitable for the installation of renewable energy systems. “The transition to renewable sources of energy production can no longer be postponed, especially in a region like Sardinia completely dependent on fossil sources – said Ghirra – but must take place with respect for the environment, the landscape, the agricultural and economic-social context . Above all, it cannot and must not turn into energy speculation for the exclusive benefit of producing companies.”
