Southern governors are asking for compensation for solar panels – Corriere.it

The first to order a halt was Renato Schifani: no
No new photovoltaic systems will be authorised – announced the Sicilian governor – until they are foreseen compensation for the island. Sicily, like other southern regions, receives many requests for the construction of photovoltaic systems, explained Schifani. Also for geographical location, obviously the South to obtain significant production results for photovoltaic and wind power. But an energy that goes to the North and is sold to third parties, concludes the governor, while the territory pays a price for the devastation of agricultural land and only gets a small share for the municipalities. So, here’s his request: A portion of this energy remains in Sicily to reduce the Sicilians’ bill. Queued right away Roberto Occhiuto, president of Calabria, also from FI: I agree. The rule that regulates royalties for photovoltaic systems needs to be changed. Now the compensations go only to the Municipalities, it is necessary to intervene so that the Regions also have an advantage for green investments. And then the colleague of the Basilicata Vito Bardi: We have to tell ourselves the truth, even if it is uncomfortable: renewables do not create jobs and at the moment they leave no benefits on the territory. We need to change what has happened up to now, especially if we want to make the South a hub of renewables, as Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has deservedly proposed.

All three governors are asking for compensation: it is good to host renewable energy plants, but a cost that must be compensated. The proposal is a sort of energy federalism: if the Northern presidents who ask for fiscal federalism want the revenue produced in the North to remain in the North, here they are asking that the energy produced in the South first satisfy the needs of the South. Thus, for Schifani, a share of the energy produced in Sicily from renewable sources must benefit the citizens of the island in their bills: Many companies are asking for land to install photovoltaic panels in Sicily. I ask that a part of the energy be distributed in the region that produces it and that it be used to reduce the costs of citizens’ bills, I don’t want money. We ask for a law to be passed that benefits all the regions concerned which, for renewable energy plants, pay a price in terms of damage to the landscape, he told Diary of the day on Network4.

The facilities are needed especially the citizens of the region where it is produced, essentially the request, or, if the energy has to end up elsewhere, concessions or royalties are granted. Current regulations provide that 3% of energy produced from renewable sources is granted to the Municipalities where the plants are located. Nothing for the Regions. And the battle does not only concern the center-right majorities: in Sicily also the Movimento 5 Stelle, which was born on environmentalist battles, approves Schifani’s move: It is not possible, however, for our fields to become endless expanses of photovoltaic panels, due to speculators who bet on the desperation of the people to buy up cheap land. For the Ministry of the Environment, on whose table requests have already arrived, the assessment must be made on the national interest and not with individual bargaining. While the Minister of Enterprise and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso, reminds Schifani that solar panels are a big bet for Sicily, where Enel is building the largest plant in Europe.